nflRIN COUNTY FREE LIBRARY

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SERVICE INSTITUTE
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L I N G A L A

BASIC COURSE

sir

DEPARTMENT OF STA T E
 7 0^1130

7 jy^irso
496.3 U. S. Forcifjn Service Inntifute.
LiiifTiilu, basic course |b}-| James Redden, F. Ronp^o find
assooiatos. Washinfrton, Dept. of State; ,for sale by the
Snpcrinteiulent of Documoiifs, U. S. Govt. Print. Off., KiC'B.
xiv. 203p. '-'7 nil. (/f« Basic course series)
1. Uaiiiral.i laii;nuis«'. Redden, James E. II. Title
i.

(Series) 64-C02<:i7
X U.S. Dept. of State. Foreign Service
EG Institute
6/71

Marin County Free Library

/i^^tt Arlm'.nislration Building
ri\iir£gntnr

^Hin Rafael, California

^ 1.
 L I N G A L A

BASIC COURSE

DATE DUE />

-^riML ^
m u I li

-rd ond pub-

>f th* OHic*
t of Health,
-niUd States

jN, F. BONGO AND ASSOCIATES

SERVICE INSTITUTE
SHINGTON, D.C.

1963

lEPARTMENT OF STATE
 LING A LA

FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE

BASIC COURSE SERIES
Edited by

CARLETON T. HODGE

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20402- Price $2.75
 BASIC COURSE

PREFACE

Lingala is a trade language spoken along about a nine hundred mile stretch of the
Congo River from Leopoldville upstream. Most of the people who speak Lingala are
native speakers of other languages and use Lingala for communicating with persons
outside their own language group.

The Lingala Basic Course is one of a series prepared by the Foreign Service In-
stitute in its Special African Languages Program, coordinated by Earl
W, Stevick.
This series being produced under an agreement with the Office of Education, De-
is

partment of Health, Education, and Welfare, under the National Defense Education Act.

The course in its present form is based on classroom experience with a group of
Foreign Service Officers. It is designed to provide basic structures and vocabulary

for the situations in which the foreigner is most likely to need Lingala.

The linguist in charge of the project has been James E. Redden. He was assisted
by Frederic Bongo, Ernest Masakala, and Emil Zola, Language Instructors.

The tapes which accompany the text were prepared in the Foreign Service Insti-

tute Language Laboratory under the supervision of Gabriel Cordova.

Howard E, Sollenberger, Dean

School of Language and Area Studies
Foreign Service Institute
Department of State
 LING A LA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Introduction
Identification and location
Tone XI
Symbol list Xll

Unit 1
Dialog ;ue t 'Greetings ' 1
Note: 1 Verb prefixes 2

2 Particle /na/, 'and', 'together with 3

3 Particle /na/ after /-zala/ 3

k Particle /na/ and /ya/i Possession . 3

5 Particles /na/ and /ya/i Description k

6 Response to yes-no questions k
7 Intonation. Statement vs. Question ,
5
8 Nouns I Singular and Plural 6
9 /o/ before another vowel 7

10 Drills Instructions on
I Hoxit to Use . 7

Unit 2

Dialogue i 'Do you speak Lmgala? ' 10

Note I 1. Negationi /te/ 11
2. Verb: Base and affixes 12
3. Aspecti Perfective/lmperfective 12
l\.. Tense Time Segments
i 12
5. Immediate Pasti Permanent States: Present
Locations ll|-

6. Habitual Action: Continued State 15

7. Temporary Habitual Present: Proximate Fu-
ture l6
8. Spelling of long or double identical vowels 16
 ,

BASIC COURSE

9. Vowel Harmony 16
10. The Kituba Language 16

Unit 3
Dialogue 'Do you want to come to my house today's '
. . 21
Notet 1 Infinitive pref ixt /ko-/ 23
2 Purpose t Immediate Future 2k
3 Immediate Present 2k
k Potential Future 25
5 Imperative 25
6 Spelling of long identical vowels ........ 25
7 Possessive Construction with Infinitive... 30
Immediate Past of /-lia/ 30
Order of Possessive and Descriptive Phrases 30

Unit 1+

Dialogue 'The Rapids '

,
31
Notet 1 Noun Classes 33
2 Verb Subject Prefixes 35
3 Nasal Homorganic with following Consonant 36
1; Adjectives ,
^3
5 Prominence of Initial Sentence Position .
kk

Unit 5
Dialogue 'On the May to Work k5
Notet 1 Nouns of deed or action, type 1 k8
2 Independent or Emphatic Subject Pronouns . kQ
3 Very Polite Questions and Requests k9
^ Vowel Harmony m Noun Prefixes k9
5 Recent Past: Recent Past Progressive .... ks
6 Cardinal and Ordinal Numerals 50
7 Telephone Numbers 50
Plural of /mokama/ 'hundred ' 50
'Passive ' Plural 55
 :
.:

LING A LA

10. Adjective Subordinate Clauses SS

11. /kosolola na/ SS

Unit 6
Dialogue 'At the Office '
56
Note: 1. Equational Sentences 60
2. Non-animate Independent Pronouns 60
3 Subjunctive 6o
\\. Applicative Suffix 61
5. Indirect Discourse: Particle /te/ 61

Unit 7

Dialogue I 'At the Market' 66

Note; 1. Desiderative 69
2. Nommalization of Adjectives 69
3. Interrogative Relative Pronouns 7^
\\.. Po'tential Juncture Before Relative Clauses 7^
5. /-tikala/ Plus Object 75
6. Please 75

Unit 8

Dialogue I 'At the Filling St£.tion' 76

Note: 1. Vowel and Semi-vowel Elision 80
2. Reversive 80
3 Reversive Stative 80
i|. Derived Stems Without Simple Stems 8I
5. Causative 8I
6. Degree of Immediate Past 8I
7. Proverb Concordance 82
8. Non-applicative Verbs With Two Objects .... 87
9. Functionally-specialized Use of Imperative 87

Unit 9
Dialogue 'The Houseboy ' 88
Notei 1. Comparison of Intensity 91
2. Definite Condition 91
 :
» :
. 8
6

BASIC COURSE

3 General Prohibitions , 91
l\.. Special Meanings of Derived Stems 92
5. /tee/ Followed by /na/ ,
92
6. /liboso/ Plus Subjunctive ,
97

Unit 10
Dialogue 'The Telephone '
98
Note: 1. Hypothetical Supposition IO6
2. 'Passive' Plural I06
3. Future m Non- initial and Subordinate Clauses 106

Unit 11
Dialogue 1 'At the Doctor '
s '
10?
Note I 1. Emphatic /wapi/ Ill
2 Spelling of /oo/ Ill

Unit 12
Dia log ue 'Mosquitoes '
117
Not e 1. Nouns From Derived Stems 121
2. Agent Nouns 122
3. /wa/i /ya/ 122
^. Literary Use of /nde/ of Mark Future 122
5. Hyperbole with /. .mayele te/ . 122
6. Norms of Deed or Action, Type 2 122

Unit 13
Dia log uei '
The Workshop '
13
Not e 1. Pa s s ive 13i|

2. Ingressive Stativei Reciprocal 135

3. /mikolo mikomi mosika/ 135
k- Instrument Nouns , Type 1 13 6
5. Locative Nouns, Type 1 13
6, Avoidance of Base Repetition 13 6
7. Instrument Nouns, Type 2 13
8. Instrument Nouns, Type 3 138
9. Expletive 13
 ..

LING A LA

Unit 111

Dialogue t 'Elections '

1[(.3

Note: 1. Miscellaneous Nouns li|6

2. /se/ ll|7

3. Ambiguity of Agent and Indirect Object 152

l\.. Lovaniuin University 153
5. Leopoldville II 153

Unit 15
Dialogue 1 'Military Service '
15L|-

Note: 1. Intermediate Past 157

2. Distant Past 157
3 Comparison of Intensity 158
l\.. Comparison of Degree 158
5. Inversion of Subject and Verb 158

Unit 16
Dialogue : 'Building a Road '
I6I4.

Note I 1. Subject ¥ith Two Verbs I69

2. Immediate Past of /-longwa/ I69
3 Indefinite Condition I69

Unit 17
Dialogue: 'Traffic Control' 175

Unit 18
Dialogue : 'A New House '
l8L|.

Note: 1. /-zala ya/ I88

2. Equational Sentence with Emphatic Subject .... I89

Unit 19
Dialogue : 'Leaving For The Store '
195
Note: 1. Reflexive 199
2 C ompound Agent Nouns 203
3 Kinship Terminology 20L\.

Vlll
 :

BASIC COURSE

Unit 20
Dialogue 'A Student Visa '
205
Note: 1. /ifo/ plus Subjunctive 208
2. Reduplication for Intensity 208
3. Wishes, Intentions, Plans 208

Unit 21
Dialogue I 'A Lost Pencil ' 21[|.

Note: 1. Double Spatial Relationships 217

2. Partitive 218

Unit 22
Dialogue! 'The Bus to Kimwenza ' 223
Note: 1. /longwa awa tii na Kimwenza/ 226
2. /nsima ya mikolo misatu/ 226

Unit 23
Dialogue i 'A" Wedding ' 232
Notei 1. Suggestive Cohortative 236
2. Distant Indefinite Future 2[|.l

Unit 2k
Dialogue! 'The Seasons ' 21^.2

Glossary 2^2

XX
 LING A LA

Introduction

Lmgala is a lingua franca or trade language spoken m the

areas on both sides of the Congo River from Leopoldville up to
about a hundred miles from Stanleyville. Lmgala, usually called
Mangala by Africans, was originally the language of the Bamangala,
a Bantu tribe that has almost completely disappeared. Most speak-
ers of Lmgala are native speakers of another language and use
Lmgala as a means of communicating with other tribal groups and
to a lesser extent with Europeans; however, there is a growing
niimber of younger people, especially m urban centers such as
Leopoldville, whose native language is Lmgala. Since Lmgala is
spoken by so many people of varied linguistic backgrounds, it is
mvevitable that the language as spoken m different areas should
vary to a greater or lesser degree.

The speaker on whose speech these materials are based is from

Leopoldville, a child of parents who could not speak each other's
language and who consequently always spoke Lmgala with each other
and with their children. Lmgala has been a written language for
quite some timej but unfortunately written or 'literary' Lmgala
IS different m many ways from Lmgala as it is nearly always
spoken by Africans. One can say without hesitation that literary
Lmgala is an invention of Europeans who have tried to 'improve'
on the language, because Africans who speak Lmgala fluently have
trouble understanding literary Lmgala even when it is spoken.
This manual is based strictly on Lmgala as spoken by the person
described above.

The transcription system used m this manual is the orthog-

raphy regularly used to write Lmgala plus diacritic markings to
indicate tone, which is not usually written, and to make it clear
how a word or segment is pronounced m
cases where the student
may have difficulty interpreting the orthograhy. Some words have
been respelled, but this is indicated m
the footnotes the first
time the respellmg occurs.
 BASIC COURSE

Lmgala contains many words borrowed both from African and

European languages. It is often difficult, if not impossible, to
recognize words borrowed from other Bantu languages. Since most
of the people who speak Lmgala are native speakers of some other
language, words from other languages are constantly used Lmgala, m
A number of Arabic words have come m
via Swahili. Portuguese and
French words have been borrowed for several centuries, and many
such words have been so fully assimilated into the sound system
that they too are very hard to recognize. A number of English
words also have entered. French words are freely used m everyday
speech m a more or less unassimila ted form. Those persons who
speak French fluently also try to pronounce French words as they
would be m French when these words are used m Lmgala. Assim-
ilated words occurmg m this text are spelled as pronounced m
Lmgala, and the first time they occur, the standard French spell-
ing IS given m
parentheses, e.g., /leta/ (I'etat), 'government'.
Words recently borrowed and not assimilated into the Lmgala sound
system are given the standard French spelling m the Lmgala text.
Unassimila ted French words usually have a high tone on the final
syllable. The diacritic marks on French words are NOT tone marks,
but they are the same as those regularly used m French spelling.

Lmgala, like almost all the languages spoken south of the

Sahara, IS a Each syllable has its own tone.
tone language. Tone
IS as much an integral part of a syllable as vowels and consonants.
Words are distinguished by tone, e.g., /ngai/, 'I', 'me' (a low
and two highs), and /ngai/, 'sour(ness) ', 'bitter (ness )
' (three
lows). .Lmgala has two contrastive or phonemic tones: high / /,
low / / (unmarked). However, there are many speakers of Lmgala
who use a stress system instead of tones. Most speakers who use a

stress system stress the penultimate syllable. Because of these

speakers and because tone has a smaller phonemic yield, i.e.,
plays a smaller role, m
Lmgala than m
the great majority of
African languages, one can obviously communicate Lmgala with- m
out using its tone system. But the majority of speakers of the
 .

LING A LA

language do use tone, including the speaker used as the model for
this manual.
Sentence intonation, e.g., use of pitch to distinguish state-
ments and questions, is also used m Lmgala. This is described
m Note 1.7. In reference to the notes m this manual, the first
numeral refers to the unit and the second numeral refers to the
note
In the four column chart given below, column I gives the
orthography except for /e/ and /o/ (See footnote 3 below), column
II gives the phonemes, column III gives the phonetic symbols, and
column IV is an approximation of the sound using American English
and French sounds for comparison.

Symbol Phoneme Phonetics Approximation

P /p/ [p]
2in
t /t/ ft] tin
k /k/ Ck] _come
kp^- /kp/ [ kp , ' kp ] simultaneous k and £
b /W [b] be
d /d/ [d] do

g /g/ [g] £0
gb^- /gb/ [gb, 'gb] simultaneous £ and b
f /f/ [f] fee
s /s/ fs] _see

h A/ [h] he
z A/ f2,j, dZjdj] zero
m /W [m] me
n /n/ fn, rj] no, sing
ny fp y] j_e pronounced through
/P/ the nose
ngb^- /rr)/ [nj] simultaneous m and rj

1 A/ [1] let
w A/ [w] we
 BASIC COURSE

y A/ [y] jes
vl. A/ [v] vine
pi.
A/ [r, y, x] French gare
1 /V [i\ ri beat2
e A/ [x, e] ba_it2
?3 /e/ [ e , ee "
] bet
a A/ [a, a] bottle
o3
1
A/ [q] bought
o A/ [o, u] boat2
u A/ [u", u] boot^
•
/#/ step down m
pitch on
preceding
syllable a nd
pause
J /I/ pause
2
/ll/ greater mte rval
between high
and low than
for A^/ ^^'^
usually stress
on the preceding
high

A number of special symbols are also used as explained below.

( )Encolosed Lmgala elements are usually elided at conversation
speed; or enclosed English elements are given for clarity of mean-
ing.

/ / In the chart above, this symbol means Lmgala phonemics;

elsewhere, it means the symbolization used this grammar. m
// // Ordinary Lmgala orthography. Spaces between words to
mark word boundaries are the same as those used the orthographym
except as given m the footnotes.
 .

LING A LA

NOTES

1. /v/ and /r/ are used only m unassimilated loan words.

2. There is no y- or w-off glide with Lmgala vowels m
contrast to English vowels which sound somewhat the same.

3. /e/ is usually /e//, but sometimes // z // , /of is usually

/o/, but sometimes // o // .

i\.. /kp/, /gb/, and /ngb/ are very rare. This manual con-
tains only one word with /gb/ and no words with /kp/ of /ngb/.
They are usually explosive, but some speakers are reported to use
implosives
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 1

Unit 1

isic Sentences

-A-

mboteI I
gree tings, good morning/
afternoon/evening

1. Mbote. Hello.

yes

2. Ee , mbote. Hello.

-A-

-zala to be, exist, live, sit,

dwell

ozali you ( sg. ) are

malamu good, well, fine

3. Ozali malamu? How are you?

-B-

nazali I am

na and, with, as well as, even

yo, yoo you (sg.)

\\. Ee, nazali malamu. Na yo? I'm fine. And you?

UNIT 1 LING A LA

-A-

5. Ee , nazali malamu. I 'm fine.

•B-

maina , ba- mother

'
mwana, bana child

na and, with; of, having; con-

sisting of; at, along, by

6. Mama na bana azali malamu? How is your wife?

-A-

7. Ee, azali malamu. She 's fine.

-B-

mpe and, also, likewise

o. Na bana mpe? And the children?

-A-

bango they, them, those

banso all

9. Ee, bango banso bazali They are all fine.

malamu.

NOTES

1.1. Verb prefixes.

Verbs have one of several prefixes to mark: (l) person

(first, second, third), (2) number (singular, plural), and (3)
other grammatical categories which will be discussed later. Note
the underlined prefixes m the chart below.
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 1

ANIMATE SUBJECT PREFIXES OP VERBS

Singular Plural

1st person nazali I am jtozali we are

2nd person ozali you (sg.) are bozali you (pi.) are

3rd person _azali he, she, it is bazali they are

1.2. Particle /na/, 'and', 'together with'

At conversation speed /na/ is usually /na/, i.e., low- toned,

but for emphasis or if there is ambiguity, it is /na/, i.e., high-
toned, and IS stressed, i.e., louder than adjacent syllables, e.g.,
/azali na mwana/, 'he is with the child', or /tata na mama na bana/,
'the father and also the mother and the children as well'. In a
question /na/ is always high.

1.3. Particle /na/ after /-zala/

The verb /-zala/ plus /na/ has a number of meanings from the
English point of view. Most commonly /-zala na/ translates 'has'
or 'have', e.g., /azali na mwana/, 'he has a child', but a number
of other meanings are possible, e.g., 'he is with the child', 'he
IS looking after the child'.

l.i|. Particles /na/ and /ya/: Possession

One of the uses of the particles /na/ and /ya/ is to mark

possession. The noun preceding the particle is the possessed, and
the noun or pronoun following the particle is the possessor. If
the possessor is a noun, /ya/occurs, e.g., /mwana ya mobali/, 'the
child of the man/male/husband'. If the possessor is a pronoun,
/na/ usually occurs, e.g., /mwana na ngai/, 'my child', 'child of
me', /ya/ does occur occasionally before pronouns possessive m
UNIT 1 LING A LA

constructions. If the possessor is a pronoun, the independent

form of the pronoun occurs. See the chart below.

INDEPENDENT PRONOUNS

Singular Plural

1st person ngai bisu

2nd person yo yoo bmu

3rd person
ft ,

ye, yee bango

r

1.5. Particles /na/ and /ya/: Description

In general if /na/ occurs between two nouns, it is understood

as 'and', ' m addition'; but there are a few specialized construc-
tions like /mama na bana/, 'woman with children, 'wife', 'lady'.
This construction is used as a polite term of address if it is
known to the speaker that the woman being addressed has children.
Or it IS used as a polite term of reference to the wife of the man
being addressed. If it is not known to the speaker whether the
couple has children, one would use /mwasi na yo/, 'your woman/wife/
female', as a term of reference and /mama/ 'mother/lady/madam', as
a term of address. Both terms are polite, but /mama na bana/ and
/mama/ establish greater rapport if used. Likewise /tata na bana/,
'husband/man/gentleman', and /tata/, 'father/gentleman/sir occur '
,

m this type situation when referring to a man.

In general if /ya/ occurs between two nouns, it is understood

as, 'of', 'belonging to'; but it may also indicate description or
quality, e.g. /mwana ya mobali/, 'boy', 'male child', 'son'. Com-
pare note I.I4..

1.6. Response to yes-no questions.

In answering a yes-no question, it is necessary to say /ee/,

'yes', or /t^/, 'no', even though the question is answered with a
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 1

sentence, e.g., /Ozali malamu?/, 'Are you well?', is answered by

/ee , nazali malamu../. 'Yes, I am well. '

1.7. Intonation! Statement vs. Question

Statements and questions are distinguished by intonation.

I.e., they have different pitch patterns or sentence melodies. In
general, the pitch level of a sentence becomes gradually lower. The
interval or amount of pitch difference between high and low is
greater m a question than m a statement, especially between the
last high and the lows m the preceding syllable and m the follow-
ing syllable, but m a long sentence the interval between high and
low is no greater m the first several syllables than the interval .

m a statement.

INTONATION

Statement Question

He likes meat. Does he like meat?

Almgi nyama. Almgi nyama?

UNIT 1 LINGALA

Though the pitch does fall over a sentence, the second of

two low tones is slightly higher if followed by a high tone. The
last syllable of a statement is conspicuously lower m pitch and
usually m amplitude, but at the end of a question only a low tone
IS lower. A final high m a statement is usually just a little

lower than a preceding low. A final high m a question is much

higher than preceding low; a final high after a high is approxi-
a

mately on the same level as or a little higher than the preceding

high. A final high m a question may be either level or high-rismg

INTONATION

Statement Question

He likes manioc leaves. Does he like manioc leaves?

Almgi mpcpndu. Almgi mp9ndu?

1.8. Nouns t Singular and Plural

Nouns are marked for singular and plural by prefixes. Most

nouns referring to persons have /mo-/ m the singular and /ba-/ m
the plural, e.g., /motu/, 'person', 'human', and /batu/, 'people'.
Kinship terms usually have no prefix m the singular, e g. . ,
/tata/,
'father', but do have /ba-/ m the plural, as m /batata/, 'fathers'
The plural prefix is listed after a noun the first time the noun
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 1

occurs. If the plural is irregular, the entire plural form is

given, e.g., /rawana/, 'child', / bana/, Irregular
'children'.
plurals are marked with the symbol to distinguish them from al-
ternate forms of the singular. The plural should be learned along
with the vocabulary item. The plural of some (especially abstract)
nouns rarely occurs. Rare plurals are given m
parentheses, e.g.,
/bolai, (ma-)/, 'length', 'depth', 'height'. Also some nouns
occur only m the plural.

1.9. /o/ before another vowel.

/o/ before another vowel is regularly /w/, e.g., /^moana/,
is /mwana/, 'child'.

1.10. Drills: Instructions on How to Use

In doing the drills, the teacher is to give the student the

first sentence. After having the student repeat the first sentence,
give him the underlined portion of the next sentence and have the
student give back the new sentence composed of the underlined por-
tion plus the required parts of the preceding sentence. See model
below.

MODEL DRILL

Teacher: Nazali malamu.

Students Nazali malamu.

Teacher: Ozali

Student: Ozali malamu.

LEXICAL DRILL 1

1. Nazali malamu. I am fine

2. Ozali malamu. You (sg.) are fme^

 ,, .

UNIT 1 LING A LA

3. Azali malamu. He/she is fine.

l\, Tozali malamu. We are fine.

5. Bozali malamu. You (pi.) are fine.

o. Bazali malamu. They are fine

LEXICAL DRILL 2

1 Azali malamu? How IS he?

2 Mwana na yo azali malamu"? How IS your child?

f f p f f

3 Mwa SI na ye azali malamu? How IS his wife?

Mobali na ye azali malamu? How IS her husband?

5 Tata na bmu azali malamu? How IS your father?

6 Mama na bango azali malamu*? How IS their mother?

7 Bana na yo bazali malamu? How are your children?

8 Bamama na bisu bazali malamu? How are our mothers?

9 Bango banso bazali malamu? Are they all all right?

10 Mama na bana azali malamu. How IS your wife?

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

Answer affirmatively:

1. Ozali malamu? Ee nazali malamu.

2. Azali malamu? Ee ,
azali malamu.

3. Bozali malamu? Ee tozali malamu.

\\. Bazali malamu? Ee bazali malamu.

. ' p p r
5. Bana na yo bazali malamu? Ee bana na ngai bazali malamu.
p r p r
6. Tata na yo azali malamu? Ee tata na ngai azali malamu.
 . 1
BASIC COURSE UNIT 1

7. Mama na bango azali malamu? Ee, mama na bango azali malamu.

Mwana na ye azali malamu'2 Ee, mwana na ye azali malamu.

8.

9
p p p
Bana na ngai bazali malamu'^
/* p
Ee ,
p p
bana na yo bazali malamu.
p p

p ^ p p p p p p p p p p

10. Mwasi na yo azali malamu? Ee , mwasi na ngai azali malamu.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Azali mwana. He IS young.

2. Nazal 1 na mwana. I have a child.

p P
3. Nazali na bana . I have children.

\\. Bazali na bana. They are with the children.

p p P * *
5. Bazali na mama na nga . They are with my mother.
r f r r
6. Tozali na mama na ngai. We are with my mother.

7. Tozali na mwana na yo . We are taking care or your child,

8. Mama azali na mwana na yo. Mother has your child.

9. Mama azali na bango banso . Mother has all of them.

10. Bozali na bango banso. You have all of them.

 ,

UNIT 2 LING A LA

UNIT 2

Basic Sentences

-A-

-loba to speak, tell, say

1. Olobaka Lmgala*? Do you speak Lmgala?

-B-

-yeba to know, be acquainted with;

may, be allowed to

namu still, yet

te
I
not, no

2. Nayebi namu malamu te I don't know it very well yet.

-A-

Pranyais French

3. Olobaka Pran9ais mpe? Do you speak French too?

-B-

kasi but

Anglais English

\\.
ft
Ee,
ft
kasi nayebi Anglais te
r
. Yes, but I don't speak English.

-A-

ndmga, n- language

mm what, which

ndako, n- house

5. Olobaka ndmga mm na What language do you speak a't

ndako? home?

10
 . '

BASIC COURSE UNIT 2

-B-

leta d'etat) government, state

Kituba, Kikongo ya the Kituba language

Leta, Kutuba
' ' '
6. Tolobaka Lmgala na Kituba. We speak Lmgala and Kituba

-A-

-yekola to study, learn

7. Naakoyekola Lingala I'm studying Lmgala.

-B-

8. Malamu. That's fine.

NOTES

2.1 Negation: /t^/

The negative particle /te/ follows whatever it modifies. If

it modifies a sentence, it occurs at the end of the sentence, e.g.^
/nayebi Anglais te/, 'I don't speak English.

2.2 Verbf Base and Affixes

olobaka

nayebi

These may be diagrammed:

Stem
^
Sub J e c t Verbal ^ Aspect
Prefix Base Extension Suffix

o- lob -ak -a

na- yeb -X

11
 .

UNIT 2 LING A LA

The base and aspect suffix occur xn every verb form. Prefixes
and verbal extensions may or may not be present. The tone of the
first stem syllable is fixed, i.e., always high or always low; but
the tone of succeeding syllables of the stem is the same as the tone
of the aspect suffix.

2.3 Aspect* Perfective/lmperfective

There are two aspect suffixes: the perfective and imper-

fective. The tone of the aspect suffix is high m the past and
imperative, but low m the non-past and infinitive.

The perfective suffix /-i/ marks a form regarded by the

speaker as indicating a completed action or state arrived at by
the time referred to m the sentence. Since /-i/ is always a past,
it always has high tone.

The imperfective suffix /-a/ marks a form regarded by the

speaker as indicating an action or state continued through an in-
definite period of time. Since the imperfective /-a/ occurs with
the past, present, and future, it has high or low tone as described
above

2.[|. Tense: Time Segments

In addition to dividing time into past, present, and future,

Lmgala segments time m a series of steps from the present. The
borderline between the various degrees of distance from the pre-
sent IS relative, i.e., cannot be stated exactly m hours or days.
The various tenses will be studied m the following lessons. Com-
pare the English approximations of Lmgala time divisions m the
diagram below.

12
 ,

BASIC COURSE UNIT 2

LINGALA TIME DIVISION

-P

,-^ EH O
O OQ
M < —
-

< CL, o K
H (D H <
cyj S EH
< H <
M
<D
Ph EH H
Q
m
H
R faD H
s G §
<i: O K a)
H h^l H H
C) Eh o
M <t; ^ w
n

13
 . .

UNIT LING A LA

2.5 Immediate Past: Permanent Statest Present Locations

The perfective suffix /-i/ marks (l) the immediate past, (2)
permanent or semi-permanent states and innate characteristics, and
(3) permanent or present locations. (l) The immediate past most

often refers to some time earlier the same day as the moment of
speaking or some time the preceding day, but it may refer to any
time mthe last three or four or more days if the speaker considers
the event to have just taken place. (2) Permanent or semi-permanent
states and innate characteristics are such things as sex, nationali-
ty, name, profession, and marital state. (3) A permanent location,
is a geographic or natural location; a present location is the pre-
sent temporary location of anything movable. Compare the examples
below.

1. nazali I have been, have become, have

reached the state of, have been
created as, i.e., I am, am m
the act or state of, am by
nature

Nazali mobali. I am a man.

Nazali awa I am here.

Nazali koloba. I am speaking

2. nayebi I have become acquainted with,

i.e., I know.

Nayebi Lmgala. I speak Lmgala,

Nayebi ye. I know him.

Ik
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 2

3. nasali I have done, I did, have just

done, recently did.

Nasali yango. I made it.

Nasali mosala I did the work.

2.6 Habitual Action: Continued State

The combination of the verbal extension /-ak-/ and the imper-

fective suffix marks the habitual present, which indicates a regular
activity or usual part of the subject's behavior over a long, in-
definite period, including the present. Compare the examples below.

1. nazalaka I am regularly, always,

habitually

Nazalaka na ndako, I'm always home.

Nazalaka na ye. I 'm always with him.

2. nalobaka I regularly speak.

Nalobaka Lmgala, I (always) speak Lmgala, i^e.,

Lmgala is a habitual activity
of mine.

3. nasalaka I regularly do.

Nasalaka bilamba I (habitually) make clothes

I.e., I am a tailor.

2.7. Temporary Habitual Present: Proximate Future

A long or double subject-pronoun vowel with a high tone orv the

second element plus (or minus) a /ko-/ prefix to the verb stem, which

15
UNIT 2 LINGALA

m turn has the imperf ective suffix, marks (l) the temporary habit-
ual present and/or (2) the proximate future. The /ko-/ prefix is
optional, but it nearly always occurs. (l) A temporary habitual

present indicates an activity which is a regular part of the sub-

ject's behavior for a rather short temporary period including the
present; (2) a proximate future is something that will take place
soon , e.g., /Naakoyekola Lmgala/, 'I'm studying Lmgala , 'At '

the present time, one of my regular activities is studying Lmgala',

or 'I'm going to be studying Lmgala m the near future'.

2.8 Spelling of long or double identical vowels.

The Lmgala orthography does not usually indicate long or

double vowels of the same quality, e.g., /naakoyekola/ is usually
/^akoyekola/'. But since this spelling is the same as that of the
potential future (See Note 3.2), sometimes an acute accent is added
to the vowel of the subject pronoun, e.g., /naakoyekola/ is some-
times /^akoyekola/C Those cases when the regular orthography
writes a long vowel will be indicated m the notes.

2.9 Vowel Harmony

There are certain limitation as to which vowels can precede

or follow other vowels. These limitations are called vowel harmony.
There are two series of vowels: primary and secondary.

primary vowels i e a o u

secondary vowels e o (a)

/a/ IS often a secondary vowel m verbal extensions and m the

imperfective suffix, but /a/ is almost always primary m a base.
The relationship of these two series is perhaps easier to see m a

vowel triangle.

16
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 2

Front Bac;k

High 1
Primary
High Mid e
]
Mid
Low Mid e o
1
Secondary
Low a Primary (-Secondary)

Vowel Harmony Rules

I. If the first syllable of a stem contains a primary vowel, all

succeeding mid vowels will be primary, i.e., high mid, e.g.,
/naay£kola_/, 'I 'm studying. '

II. If the first syllable of a stem contains a secondary vowel,

all succeeding mid vowels will be secondary, i.e., low mid, unless
a high vowel occurs after the secondary vowel, which case suc- m
ceeding mid vowels will be primary, e.g., /natekeli/, 'I sold for

(someone) ', but /nabongiseli/, 'I repaired for (someone) '.

III. When a secondary vowel occurs m a syllable before /a/ m

either habitual extension /-ak-/ or the imperfective suffix /-a/,
the same secondary vowel as m the preceding syllable also usually
occurs m the extension and the imperfective suffix, e.g., /naken-
deke/, 'I go', is the more common form, but /nakendaka/, 'I go',
is also fairly common. If both the habitual extension and the
imperfective suffix occur, both the extension and the suffix have
the same vowel, i.e.j /*' nakendaka/ does not occur.

IV. A low mid vowel immediately followed by a high vowel is often

replaced by a high mid vowel, e.g., /omoni/, 'I see' is the more
common form, but /omoni/, 'I see' is fairly common.

In bases ending m a vowel, form with two primary vowels

a
occurs, e.g., /nakei/, 'I went', not /'nakei/. If /a/ occur? m
17
UNIT 2 LING A LA

this envirormient, it acts as a secondary vowel, e.g., /nayei/,

'I came', not /*nayai/.

V. Verb prefixes are not influenced by vowel harmony.

VI. Some noun prefixes are subject to vowel harmony influence of

the first syllable of the base m the same ways as described above
for vowels following the initial base syllable. This will be fur-
ther studied m Note l\-.3-

2.10 The Kituba Language

Kituba is a lingua franca spoken to the west and south of

Lmgala. Many speakers of Lmgala also know Kituba, and conversely.
Lmgala and Kituba share many words and grammatical structures.
Kituba IS also called Kikongo ya Letaj but sometimes Kituba is re-
stricted to mean that dialect of the language spoken m the eastern
or Kwango-Kwilu region, and Kikongo ya Leta restricted to mean that
of the western or lower Congo region.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL I

-yoka to hear, listen, feel

understand

moke, mi- small, thin; a little;

a bit, few

1. Olobaka Lmgala? Do you speak Lmgala?

2. Olobaka Fran9ais mpe ? Do you speak French too?

3. Nayebi Pran9ais mpe.' I speak French too.

' ' * '
h,. Nayebi Lmgala moke . I speak a little Lmgala.
' ' ' *
5. Bayebi Lmgala moke. They speak a little Lmgala.

18
 . i

BASIC COURSE UNIT 2

6. Bayebi malainu te . They don't speak it very well.

7. Toyoki yo malamu te, ¥e didn't understand you very

well.

8. Toyoki yo moke . ¥e understood you partly.

9. Boyebi Anglais moke^ You (pi.) speak a little English.

10. Boyebi malamu . You (pi.) know it very well.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1.

2.
ft
Nazali na ndako ya ngai.

Nazali na ndako ya bango

'
.
I 'm

I 'm
at home.

at their house.

3. Azali mwana ya bango. He IS their child.

' '
'
ij.. Azali mwana malamu . He '
s a good child.
' ' * '

5. Toyebi Lmgala malamu. We speak Lmgala well.

' ' '
'
6. Toyebi Lmgala moke . We speak a little Lmgala.

7. Ozali mwana mok^. You are a small child.

8. Ozali mwana ya mama ya nga , You are a child of my mother,

9. Azali tata ya mama ya ngai. He IS my mother's father.

10. Azali tata ya ngai . He IS my father.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Naakoyekola Lmgala. I'm studying Lmgala.

A > f ' '
2. Naakoyekola ndmga na bmu . I 'm learning your language,

3. Nayebi ndmga na bmu. I know your language.

[|. Nayebi Anglais te . I don't speak English,

5. Ayebi Anglais te He doe'sn't know English.

19
 . . i . )

UNIT 2 LING A LA

6. Ayebi yo. He knows you.

7. Bayoki yo. They hear you.

8. Bayoki malamu . They feel fine, (i.e., They

have recovered.
t f f f

9. Oyebi Lmgala malamu. You speak Lmgala well.

10. Oyebi Lmgala na Frangais , You speak Lmgala and French.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

1. Nayebi ye malamu te I don't know him very well.

r r r f r
2. Nayebi mwana na ye ya mobali . I know his son.
^ f r f
3. Azali mwana na ye ya mobali. He IS her son.

i|. Azali na nda ko na nga . He IS at my house.

5. Tolobaka Kituba na ndako na We speak Kituba at my house.

ngai

6. Tolabaka Kituba na Frangais We speak Kituba and French

mpe also

7. Bayebi Kituba na Fran9ais mpe^ They know Kituba and French

also.

o. Bayebi namu malamu te . They don't know (how) very well.

9. Bayebi Anglais moke . I speak a little English.

10. Azali mwana moke. He IS a small child.

20
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 3

Unit 3

Basic Sentences

-A-

-Imga to want, like; be almost

on the point of

-yaa to come, become

lelo today

1. Olmgi koyaa lelo na Do you want to come to my house

ndako na ngai? today?

-B-

soke, soki if

-zwa to get, receive, find, meet

ntangu, ntango time, hour, clock, sun

2. Soke nazwi ntangu nakoyaa. If I get time, I will come. If

nothing prevents me, I'll come.

-A-

-lia to eat

3. Olmgi kolia mm? What do you like to eat?

-B-

nsoso chicken

loso I
rice
r r r r
h.. Nsoso na loso. Chicken and rice

-A-

5- Na mm? And what else?

21
 , )

UNIT 3 LING A LA

mbisi fish

mpondu manioc leaves (used as a

vegetable

nyama meat

6. Mbisi, mpondu na nyama Pish, manioc leaves with meat.

-A-

- lamba to cook, prepare food

7. Malamu, nako lamba. Good, I '11 fix it.

-mele I
to drink, suck up, smoke
I

8. Omela mm? What would you like to drink?

-B-

wine

masanga wine, beer

mbila palm tree, palm nuts

9. Vmu na masanga ya mbila Some wine and palm wine.

-A-

-koka to be able, can, be suffi-

cient, be more than a
given niomber

-yaa na to bring, come with

10. Okoki koyaa na mwasx na Can't you bring your wife?

yo te?

-B-

mibale two

11. Tokoyaa bisu mxbale. We'll both come

22
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 3

-A-

12. Kende malamu.

I t
Goodbye.

-B-

13. Na yo mpe. Goodbye.

r ^ r f r t
114.. Pesa mama na bana mbote. Say hello to your wife for me.

-A-

15. Pesa mpe bana mbote. And remember me to your children.

-B-

16. Melesi. Thanks

NOTES

3.1 Infinitive prefix: /ko-/

Verbal nouns, here called infinitives, are marked by the pre-

fix /ko-/ added to the imperfective verb stem, e.g., /kosala/, 'to
do', 'doing'. This prefix may be added to any imperfective verb
stem, so that, for example, there is also a form /kosalaka/, 'to do
habitually'. Infinitives are invariable and, like other nouns, may
be subjects of verbs, e.g., /kosala ezali malamu/, 'It's good to
work', 'Work is a good thing'. (The verb prefix /e-/ is described
m Note /+.2. )

Infinitives often occur after a mam verb much like a comple-

mentary infinitive m
English, and the meaning of such a construc-
tion IS usually obvious, e.g., /okoki koyaa/, 'you are able to come'
But sometimes the meaning is difficult for a speaker of English to
guess. In such cases a footnote is given.

A verb of motion plus an infinitive indicates purpose, e.g.,

/ayei kolia/, 'he has come to eat', 'he has come m order to eat'.

23
 .

UNIT 3 LING A LA

3.2 Purpose: Immediate Future.

/-Imga/ followed by an infinitive .expresses (l) purpose

and/or immediate future.
(2) (l) Purpose is a desire or a want;

(2) the immediate future is something about to happen, e.g.,/olingi

koyaa/, 'you want to come,' or 'you are about to come', 'you will
come very soon'. Compare also /balmgi koloba Lmgala/, 'They want
to speak Lmgala', or 'They will (soon be able to) speak Lmgala,
(but they can't speak it now) ', 'They have nearly reached the state
of being able to speak Lmgala'. Sometimes 'almost ready to' is a

good translation.

3.3 Immediate Present

/-zali/ plus an infinitive marks the immediate present, i.e.,

something taking place at the moment of speaking, e.g., /nazali
kolia/, 'I am eating', 'I am m
the act/process/state of eating at
this moment '

Though the temporary habitual present (See Note 2.8) and the
immediate present both usually translate 'I am... mg and though '

both may often be used to describe the same event, they often con-
trast, e.g., /naakolia/, 'I'm eating ', i.e., 'I'm studying (or
whatever) but from time to time I eat something even though at this
moment I may not have food m my mouth', /nazali kolia/, 'I am eat-
ing something right at this moment'.

The immediate future (See Note 3-2) and the immediate present
are both used to describe something which is going to happen very
soon. If the immediate present is used, the event is so near that
it is considered to have already begun, e.g., /azali kokende/, 'He

IS going', 'He is already starting to leave', /almgi kokende/,

'He's about to go', 'He's going to leave m just a little bit'.

2k
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 3

3.1^ Potential Future

The prefix /-ko-/ plus the imperfective suffix with low tone
form the potential future. The potential future may be any time
m the future, but it is rather indefinite, i.e., it is much less
sure to take place than the immediate and proximate futures, e.g.,
/nakoyaa/, 'I will come', 'I plan/intend to come'.

3.5 Imperative.

The imperative (commands) singular consists of the verb stem

plus a high tone imperfective suffix, e.g., /Kende/, 'Go', 'Go

away.
The imperative plural consists of the prefix /bo-/ plus the
imperative singular, e.g., /bosala/, 'work' (speaking to more than
one person). However, the imperative singular is often used when
addressing more than one person.

/-yaa/ is irregular m the imperative, e.g., /yaka/, 'Come',

/yakaka/, 'Come regularly'.

3.6 Spelling of long identical vowels

/koyaa/ is //\zoja//. Compare Note 2.9

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Nalmgi kolia. I want to eat.

2. Nalmgi mbisi . I like fish.

3. Nalmgi kolia mbisi . I want to eat fish.

1;. Nalmgaka kolia mbisi. I like to eat fish.

5. Nalmgaka mpondu na nyama . I often eat manioc leaves with

meat.

6. Nakolamba mpondu na nyama. I'll cook manioc leaves with meat,

7. Nakolamba nsoso na loso . I'll fix chicken and rice.

25
UNIT 3 LING A LA

8. Balmgi nsoso na loso. They like chicken and rice.

9. Balmgi koloba Lmgala . They are going to speak Lmgala.

10. Azali koloba Lmgala. He's speaking (m) Lmgala.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Tozali koyekola Lmgala. We are studying Lmgala.

2. Tozali bana na ye . We are his children*

3. Bozali bana na ye. You are his children.

h\.. Bozali kokend£. You are leaving.

5. Almgi kokende. He wants to leave.

6. Almgi koyaa na mwasi na ye . He wants to come with his wife.

7. Akoki koyaa na mwasi na ye. He can come with his wife.

8. Akoki kolia na ngai . He can eat with me.

9. Balmgi kolia na ngai. They want to eat with me.

10. Balmgi kokende lelo » They want to leave today.

Question and Answer Drill 1

Answer the questions with a full sentence as directed by the

underlined cues.
/ / / '
1. Olmgi koyaa lelo na ndako Do you want to come to my house
na ngai? today?
' * t f
Ee, nalmgi koyaa lelo na Yes, I want to come to your house.
ndako na yo.

2. Okozwa ntangu ya koyaa na Will you have time to come to my

ndako na ngai? house?

Ee, nakozwa ntangu ya koyaa Yes, I'll have time to come to

na ndako na yo. your house.

26
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 3

3. Bolmgi kolia mm? What do you (pi.) want to eat?

p * ^ / /
Tolmgi kolia nsoso na We want chicken and rice.

—loso.
I %

L\.. Balambaka mm? What do they usually prepare?

f f r
Balambaka mbisi, mpondu They usually prepare fish and
na nyama . manioc leaves with meat.

5. Baakolamba mm? What are they going to prepare?

Baakolamba mbisi, mpondu They are going to prepare fish

na nyama . and manioc leaves with meat.

0. Akoki koyaa na bana na Can't he bring his children?

ye t^?

Te, akoki koyaa na bana na No, he can't bring his children.

ye t^.

7. Bokoki kok^nde bmu mibale t^. Can't you both go?

Te, tokoki kokende bisu No, we both can't go.

mibale te.

o. Ozali na mm na ndako? What do you have m the house?

Nazali na vmu na masanga I have wine and palm wine m

ya mbila na ndako. the house.

9. Omelaka mm? What do you usually dirnk?

Name la ka masanga ya mbila . I usually drink palm wine.

10. Bolobaka ndmga mm? What language do you usually
speak?

Tolobaka Lmgala . We usually speak Lmgala.

27
 . . i

UNIT 3 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Okayaa lelo na ndako You will come to my house

na nga i tomorrow.

2. Okoyaa kolia nsoso na You will come to eat chicken

nyama . and meat.

3. Nakolamba nsoso na nyama. I will prepare chicken and meat,

i|. Nakolamba soko nazwi ntangu . I will fix (some) if I get time.

5. Nakokende lelo soko nazwi I'll go today if I have time.

ntangu.

6. Nakokende lelo na ndako na

I I I I
ye,
" — I'll go to his house today.

7. Bakozala na ndako na ye. They will be at his house.

o. Bakozala na mwa s i na nga . They will be with my wife.

9. Nakokende komele na mwa si

1 • 1 . I
I 'm going out drinking with
na nga i my wife.
10.
II
Nakokende komele
II vmu na I 'm going out to drink wine
masanga ya mbila and beer.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

1. Aliaka mpondu na nyama. He always eats manioc leaves

and meat.

2. Alei mpondu na nyama. He ate manioc leaves and meat.

3 Alei nsoso . He ate (the) chicken.

\\. Bokoki kozwa nsoso. You (pi.) can have (the) chicken.

5. Bokoki kozwa mb i s i na nyama , You (pi.) can have (the) fish

and also (the) meat.

D. Balmgi mbisi na nyama. They want (the) fish and (the)

meat too.
2^
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 3

7. Balmgi
° kokende 1 1
na ndako. They are about to go home.

8. Tozali kokende na ndako. We are on the way home.

9. Tozali kolamba nyama . We are cooking the meat.

10. Ayebi kolamba nyama. She knows how to fix the meat,

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

1. Mama aakolamba nsoso na Mother is going to fix chicken

lose. and rice.

2. Mama akolamba nsoso na lose, Mother will fix chicken and rice.

3. Mama alambi nsoso na loso. I I

Mother fixed chicken and rice.
r f r f r r
a.
^ Mama alambaka nsoso na loso, I I
Mother fixes chicken and rice,
quite often.

5« Mama azali kolamba nsoso Mother is fixing the chicken

na loso.
I I
and rice now.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Mwana na ngai ya mobali My son will leave today.

akokende lelo.
I III
2. Mwana na ngai ya mobali My son left today.
akei lelo. I I

3. Mwana na ngai ya mobali My son is leaving (later) today,

aakokende lelo.
1 1- I »

\\. Mwana na ngai ya mobali My son is leaving (right away)

azali kokende lelo. today.

5. Mwana na ngai ya mobali My son regularly leaves at

akendaka ntango nyonso . this time.

29
UNIT 3 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 7

1. Kende malamu. Goodby.

2. Kende ndako.
I I
Go home. Go to the house.

3. Kende kolaraba nyama , Go fix the meat.

\\. Kende koyekola . Go study.

5. Kende kozwa loso.

I I 1 I
Go get some rice.

3.7 Possessive Construction with Infinitive,

ntangu ya koyaa

When an infinitive is the possessor noun m a possessive con-

struction, the infinitive is descriptive and usually translates
as (1) a complimentary infinitive, (2) 'for' plus a gerund, or
(3) present participle, e.g., /ntangu ya kolia/, (l) 'time to
eat', (2) 'time for eating', or (3) 'eating time'.

3.8 Immediate Past of /-lia/

/-lia/ has an irregular immediate past /-lei/.

3.9 Order of Possessive and Descriptive Phrases

mwana na ngai ya mobali

It both a possessive and a descriptive phrase modify a noun,

the possessive phrase comes first, as m the phrase above, 'my son'

30
 ) .

BASIC COURSE UNIT k-

Unit k-

Basic Sentences

-A-

dii friend, comrade

mono , mona to see, feel

' chutes '

, (ba- rapids

boongo thus, so

- teleme
I I I
to stop, stand up' insist

wapi where

Dii, nalmgi komona Say, I'd like to see the rapids,

ba chutes, boongo nakoki Where can I go to get a good
koteleme wapi? view of them?

2. Oyebi ndako ya 'President' Do you know the President's

na Bmza? house at Bmza?

-A-

3. Ee, nayebi. Ye s , I do

-mata to go up, climb, rise

mwaa small, little, few

ngomba , n- hill, mountain

esika, bi- place

\\. Okomata mwaa ngomba esika ya You climb the hill where the
'monument' ya 'Stanley' monument to Stanley is.
ezali.

31
 .

UNIT k LING A LA

-A-

nsima, n- back, rear, later,

afterwards

na ns ima then, next

5. Na nsima? And then what*?

-B-

111' liboko,
loboko, 11' ma- arm, sleeve, side

mwasi, ba- left, female

libanga, ma- rock, stone

lolenge, ndenge, n- sort, kind; manner, way;

quality; character, makeup

6. Na nsima okomona na loboko Then you will see all sorts of

ya mwasi mabanga ndenge rocks on the left.
na ndenge

-A-

melesi (merci) thanks

tikala to stay, remain

7. Melesi, tikala malamu. Thanks, goodbye.

-B-

o. Kende malamu. Goodbye.

32
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 1+

CLASSROOM EXPRESSIONS

Kanga ndako. Close the door.

Kanga monoko ya ndako. Close the door.

Pungola lininisa. Open the window.

Pungola buuku. Open your book (s).

Loba lisusu. Say it again.

Loba nsima na ngai. Repeat after me.

Yoka malamu. Listen carefully.
Zongisa na mo tuna oyo. Answer the question.

-kanga to stop, cease; close, shut,

take, grasp, wrap up

monoko , mi- mouth, opening; word, message

-fungola to open, release, unlock

lininisa, ma- window

lisusu again, anew; besides, moreover

buuku, (ba-) book

-zongisa to send/give back, answer

mo tuna, mi- question

oyo this, these, the

I|..l Noun Classes

Lmgala nouns are divided into several classes, which are

distmguisehd by class prefixes. The MO-BA and the j2^-BA classes
were introduced m Unit 1. Besides kinship terms, the j2^-BA class
contains most recently-borrowed words, e.g., /chutes/, /bachutes/,
'rapids'. The plural prefix appears after each noun the first

33
UNIT 1+ LING A LA

time it occurs. All the nouns beginning with /mo-/ the previous m
lessons belong to the MO-BA, class except /mobali/ and /moke/, which
are MO-MI class. All the nouns m
previous lessons beginning with
a nasal consonant (mor n) plus another consonant are N-N class.
There is now rather strong tendency among younger people to put
a

nouns of the N-N class into the ^-BA class, i.e., instead of
/ndako/, 'house' and/or 'houses', some young people say /ndako/,
'house' and /bandako/, 'houses', but the N-N pattern is still the
dominant one for this class of noun.

The various noun classes are listed below. Note which sin-
gulars go with which plurals.

NOUN CLASSES

;PIX CLASS SINGULAR PLURAL

MO-BA motu (person) batu

i2^-BA tata (father) batata

MO-MI monene (big) mmene

LI -MA libanga (rock) mabanga

BO-MA bobma (dance) mabma

LO-MA lokolo (leg, foot) makolo

E-BI ebale (river) bibale

LO-N lopete (ring) mpete

MO-N mosuki (hair) nsuki

N-N nzete ( tree) nzete

KO kobota (to give birth to)

31^
 '

BASIC COURSE UNIT k

l\..2 Verb Subject Prefixes

In Unit 1 the verb prefixes for animate subjects were intro-

duced. Animate is here restricted to men and animals. In the third
person animate/inanimate is distinguished. In the singular, the verb
prefix IS /a-/ if the subject is animate, but /e-/ if the subject is
inanimate. In the plural, the verb prefix is /ba-/ if the subject
IS animate, but is the same as the prefix on the noun if the subject
IS inanimate with the exception that the inanimate N-N class has the
plural verb prefix /mi-/, e.g., /ndako mizali.../, 'the houses are..

If there is an adjective after a plural noun, the prefix to

the verb is m concord with the adjective prefix, e.g., /mabanga/
minene mizali.../, 'the big rocks are...'

VERB SUBJECT PREFIXES

PERSON SINGULAR PLURAL

1 St na- to-

2 nd 0- bo-

3rd animate a- ba-

3rd inanimate e- mi-

e- ma-

e- bi-

35
 . . . . .

UNIT ID- LING A LA

CONCORD OP NOUN AND VERB PREFIXES

SINGULAR PLURAL

PERSON SUBJECT VERB SUBJECT VERB

3rd animate mo- a- ba- ba-

^- a- ba- ba-

3rd inanimate mo- e- mi- mi-

li- e- ma- ma-

bo- e- ma- ma-

lo- e- ma- ma-

lo- e- n- mi-

e- e- bi- bi-

n- e- n- mi-

ko- e-

CONCORD OF NOUN AND VERB PREFIXES

Mwana _azali. . The child is. . .

Bana bazali. The children are..

Mobali a_zali. The man is . .

Mibali bazali The men are . .

Libanga _ezali The rock is . .

Mabanga mazali The rocks are . .

Motuka ezali . The automobile is,

36
 . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 4

u n± bUJrict iri_LZ,cl J.J. . The automobiles are

9. Eloko _ezali. . . The thing is. .

10. —
Biloko
1 1
bizali. The things are...

11. Ndako _ezali. . . The house is . .

12. Ndako mizali. The houses are...

In some dialects of Lmgala, especially up-river from Leopold-

ville, the verb prefix m the third person m both the singular and
the plural is the same as that of the prefix of the inanimate noun
subject except that the N-N class has /e-/ sg. and /-i/ pi. for the
verb suffix. Written Lmgala usually follows up-river Lmgala m
this respect.

i4-.3 Nasal Homorganic with Following Consonant,

lolenge, ndenge

Only certain combinations of nasal consonant plus another

consonant occur. A nasal consonant is homorganic with the follow-
ing consonant, i.e., it is made m the same mouth position as the
following consonant.

NASAL BEFORE CONSONANT

labial m p, b, f

dental n t, d, s, z

velar 33 k, g

/n/ plus /l/ is /nd-/, e.g., /lolenge/, 'kind', /ndende/,

'kinds'. However, the plural form of this word is often used as
a collective singular.

/n/ plus /y/ IS /nz/, e.g., /n-/ plus /-yembo/ is /nzembo/,

'song'. What is written /ny/ the orthography as m
/nyama/. m
37
 .

UNIT 1^ LING A LA

'meat', represents a single sound, an iV-l , i.e., a palatal nasal.

This sound can be approximated by pronouncing 'y' through the nose
/nz/ IS a sequence of two sounds, /n/ plus /z/.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

mobali, mi- right, male

liboso, ma- fi'ont; before

Tolmgi
° II komona
kokende I
We want to go see the rapids.
ba chutes

Bazali kokend^ komona They are about to see the rapids.

ba chutes.

3. Bazali komata ngomba . They are climgmg the mountain.

4. Boyebi komata ngomba. You are acquainted with mountain

climbing.

5. Boyebi ndako ya 'President You know where the President's

house IS.

D.' Namoni ndako ya 'President , I saw the President's house.

7. Namoni tata ya bango . I saw their father.

' ' ' ' '
o. Natikali na tata ya bango. I 'm remaining with their father.

9. Natikali na ndako . I'm staying home.

10. Azali liboso na ndako. He's m front of the house.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Tata na ngai almgi komona My father is coming to see the

ndako. house right away.

2. Mama na bisu almgi komona Our mother is coming to see the

ndako. house right away.

38
 . I 1 . . » .. .

BASIC COURSE UNIT k-

3. Mama na bisu akotikala na Our mother x>rill stay m the

ndako. house

i|.. Mwana moke akotikala na The small child will stay m

ndako. the house.
f r f r r

5. Mwana moke azali na libanga . The small child has a rock.

6. Mo ball na ye azali na libanga Her husband has a rock.

7.
^
Mobali na ye azali liboso na
^ f *
Her husband is m front of
ndako . the house.

0. Bana ya yo bazali liboso Your children are m front of

na ndako. the house.

9. Bana na yo bazali kolamba Your children are cooking

nsoso « chicken.

10. Basi bazali kolamba nsoso. The women are cooking chicken.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Nazali na ndako. I'm at home

2. Nazali na ndako. I have a house.

Na z a 1 1 na bana mibale I have two children.

3

\\.
ft
Azali mama ya bana mibale.
t A
.

f
She IS the mother of two

5.
ft
Azali mama ya tata na yo
ft .
children.

She IS your father's mother.

f f f

—
f f
Today we saw your father.
6. I—
Lelo
— tomoni tata na yo
1

f
"^ I

f
f f f f f

7. Lelo tomoni mabanga ndenge Today we saw all kinds of

na ndenge . rocks
f f
0. Na nsima okomona na loboko
f f
%
r f
I
f
—— I
r
Then you will see all sorts
ya mwa s mabanga ndenge. of rocks on the left.
f f
na ndenge

39
 .. . . . ..

UNIT 1; LING A LA

9. Na nsima okoraona na loboko Then you will see their house

ya inwasi ndako ya bango . on the left.

10. Na liboso okomona na loboko Before that you will see their
ya mobali ndako ya bango. house on the right.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

Pluralize all nouns possible and concordize the verbs.

1. Mwana moke akotikala na The small child will stay m

ndako. the house.
f r '
Bana mike bakotikala na The small children will stay
I

ndako. m the houses.

2. Tata na ngai almgi komona My father is coming to see the

ndako house

Batata na bisu balmgi Our fathers are coming to see

komona ndako. the houses.

3. Mobali na ye azali na Her husband has a rock.

libanga

Mibali na bango bazali Their husbands have rocks.

na mabanga

p f f

[|_. Mama na yo akolamba nyama Your mother will prepare the

meat.

Bamama na bmu bakolamba Your mothers will prepare the

nyama meats

5. Azali mwana malamu. She IS a good child.

Bazali bana malamu. They are good children.

o. Azali tata ya ngai. He IS our father.

f f p p
Bazali batata ya bisu. They are our fathers,

hfi
 . . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 1+

7. Nayoki mwana na ye ya I didn't understand his son.

mobali te

Toyoki bana na bango ya We didn't understand their

mibali te sons
I

8. Balobaka ndmga mm na ¥hat language is spoken at

Leo*? Leopoldville?
Balobaka ndmga mm na What languages are spoken at
Leo? Leopoldville?

9. Mama na ngai aakotikala My mother is staying with the

na mwana child.

Bamama na bisu baakotikala Our mothers are staying with

na bana the children.

10. Libanga moke ezali liboso There is a little rock m

ya ndako. front of the house.
/ /
Mabanga mike mizali liboso
^ / p

There are little stones m

ya ndako. front of the house.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

Pluralize all nouns possible and concordize the verbs.

1. Mobali azali na lopete moke. The man has a little ring.

Mibali bazali na mpete mike. The men have little rings.

2. Libanga monene ezali na There is a big rock at this

p f p
esika oyo. place

Mabanga mmene mizali na There are big rocks at this

esika oyo. place

3. Mwasi azali liboso ya libanga The woman is m front of a

monene. big rock.

i^l
 . . .

UNIT k LING A LA

Basi bazali liboso ya The women are m front of big

mabanga mmene. rocks.

' ' ' '

L\.. Mwana azali na loboko ya The child is on the left side
mwasi ya ndako. of the house.

Bana bazali na loboko ya The children are on the left

mwasi ya ndako. side of the house.

5. Motu akofunga linmisa. Someone will close the window.

Batu bakofunga maninisa. Some people will close the

windows

6. Mwana ya mobali aakozongisa The boy is asking a question.

na mo tuna.

Bana ya mibali baakozongisa The boys are asking questions.

na mi tuna

f f f r f
7. Mwasi ayokaka mobali na ye. The woman obeys her husband.

Basi bayokaka mibali na The women obey their husbands.

bango.

o. Nzete ezali nsima ya ndako. There is a tree behind the

house.

Nzete mizali nsima ya ndako, There are trees behind the

house ( s)

9. Mwana mwasi akei na bob ma. The girl went to a dance.

Bana basi bakei na mabma. The girls went to dances.

10. Motu akangi buuku. Someone has closed (his) book.

Batu bakangi ba buuku. Some people have closed (their!

books.

i^2
 ..

BASIC COURSE UNIT k

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Mwasi na ngai ayebi ndako. My wife knows where the house

IS.

2. Mwasi na ngai azali na ndako My wife owns two houses.

mibale

Tata na bisu azali na ndako Our father has two houses.

mibale

Tata na bisu azali na loboko I I

Our father is on the right
ya mobali ya ndako . side of the house.
/ / / A f
Bana na bmu bazali na loboko I I
Your children are on the
ya mobali ya ndako. right side of the house.

Bana na bmu balmgi kolia Your children want to eat

na nsima na ndako . behind the house.

Batu nyonso balmgi kolia Everyone wants to eat m back

na nsima na ndako. of the house.

Batu nyonso batelemi liboso Everyone is standing m front

na ndako . of the house.

Bana mike batelemi liboso

I I I
The small children have
na ndako. stopped before the house.
p p f p
lo, Bana mike bazali komata mwaa
I
The little children are
ngomba . climbing the hill.

^.l|- Adjectives
Lmgala has only a few adjectives, but is m the process of
developing several new ones. An adjective follows the noun it mod-
ifies, e.g., /mwana moke/, 'a small child'. New adjectival con-
structions are formed by /ya/, /mwana ya mobali/, 'male child',
'son'. Many such constructions now regularly occur without /ya/,
so that /mwana mobali/, 'male child', 'son', is now the preferred
form for many younger persons.
i+3
UNIT k LING A LA

Nearly all adjectives are invariable, but there are a few

which are marked for singular and plural, such as /moke/, /mike/.

l\..$ Prominence of Initial Sentence Position.

For emphasis an element of a sentence may be placed initially,

e.g., /Lelo tomoni tata na yo/, 'Today we saw your father'. This
gives an additional bit of emphasis to /lelo/, 'today', m
contrast
to some other day.

hk
 '

BASIC COURSE UNIT 5

Unit 5

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. Ozali kokende wapi? Where are you going?

-B-

mosala, mi- work, job, trade, occupation

2. Nazali kokende na inosala

I I
I 'm on my way to work.

-A-

-sala to work, do, make, till,

farm

3. Osalaka wapi? Where do you work?

-B-

'mecanicien mechanic

CEGEAC C.E.G.E.A.C. , a new-car

dealer that imports
American-made cars

\\. Ngai, nazali mecanicien Me, I 'm a mechanic at CEGEAC,

na CEGEAC.

-A-

-banda to start, commence; since

5. Mosala ya bmu ebandaka What time do you being work?

ntangu nini'2

-B-

ne;one;a , n- time, hour, bell, gong,

clock

nsambo

h^
UNIT 5 LING A LA

ntongo, n- morning, forenoon

Mosala ya bisu ebandaka na Our work starts at seven m the

ngonga ya nsambo na morning,

ntongo

-A-

Nakoki koyeba esika Might I know where you work?

osalaka te?

'secretaire' secretary

' amba s sa de '

emba s sy

Ngai, nazali secretaire Me, I 'm a secretary at. the

na ambassade ya Amerique. American Embassy.

-A-

awa here

mokolo, mi- day

Oyaki awa mokolo

•J III mm? When did you arrive?

mposo week, Saturday; salary, pay

misato, misatu three

10. Oyo mposo ya misatu. This IS my third week.

-A-

-solola to talk, converse, speak,

tell

mpo, mpoo, m- thing, affair, matter;

because, on account of

mbango, mbangu, m- speed, swiftness

i|6
 , .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 5

11. Malamu, mokolo mm toko- Well then, we can have a chat

solola malamu, mpoo, one of these days; but now
naakokende mbangu na I 'm m a hurry to get to
mosala work.

-B-

-pesa to give, provide with

nuinero (numero) number

-yebxsa advise, inform, make

known

12. Pesa ngai niomero ya Give me your telephone number

telephone na yo, mpo so I ' 11 have it.
nayebisa yo mokolo.

-A-

13. Numero qua tre-vmgts 8352.

trois, cmquante deiix,

NUMERALS

moko one

mibale two

misato. misatu three

mmei four

mitano. mitanu five

motoba six

nsambo seven

mwambe mwambi eight

libwa nine

hi
 .

UNIT 5 LING A LA

zomi ten

zomi na moko eleven

zomi na mibale twelve

ntuku mibale twenty

ntuku mibale na moko I I

twenty- one

ntuku misato thirty

ntuku misato na mibale thrity- two

ntuku mmei forty

nkama , monkama, mokama,(mi- hundred

nkama mi t a no five hundred

nkoto thousand

nkoto nsambo seven thousand

NOTES

5.1 Nouns of deed or action, type 1.

A limited number of nouns meaning the act or deed of the verb

base are formed by the MO-MI prefix class plus a high- tone /-a/
suffix, e.g., /mosala/, 'work', 'job', 'occupation'.

S''2. Independent or Emphatic Subject Pronouns .

Ngai, nazali 'mecanicien' na CEGEAC

In Unit 1 the independent pronouns were introduced with the

tones they have m possessive constructions. All independent por-
nouns except /ngai/ are invariable; but when an independent or
emphatic subject /ngai/ is /ngai/, as m
/Ngai, nazali 'mecanicien'
na CEGEAC/, 'Me, I 'm a mechanic at CEGEAC'

^8
 . '

BASIC COURSE UNIT 5

5.3 Very Polite Questions and Requests

Nakoki koyeba esika osalaka te?

To ask a question or make a request m a very polite way,

/-koki/ prefaces the question or request, which is expressed with
an infinitive, and /te/ occurs at the very end, e.g., /Nakoki
koyeba esika osalalaka te'i/, 'Might I know where you work?',
'Would you be so kind as to tell me where you work?

5.I4- Vowel harmony m noun prefixes.

mokolo
I t I

When a noun prefix containing a mid vowel occurs before a

secondary vowel m
the first syllable of a base, the prefix vowel
IS for many younger speakers low mid, e.g., /mokolo/, 'day', ex-
cept the infinitive which has a primary vowel m the prefix, e.g.,
/komono/, 'to see'.

5.5 Recent Past: Recent Past Progressive

f
okaki awa mokolo
f f

I t I
mm?
p

The combination of the extension /-ak-/ and the perfective

suffix /-i/ forms the recent past. The recent past most often
refers to something which took place no later than the day before
yesterday but within the last month; however, if the speaker con-
siders the event to have happened recently , the recent past may
refer to a few months ago, or m some cases even a few years ago.
Likewise, it may refer to a time later than the day before yester-
day if the speaker wants to imply recentness but not something
which has just taken place. In the example given above from the
dialogue, the questioner implies that he knows that the American
has arrived only recently m
Leopoldville e.g., /Oyaki awa mokolo ,

mm?/, 'When did you arrive?', 'You have arrived only recently,
haven ' t you? '

i|9
 '

UNIT 5 LING A LA

For verbs of state or existence, the recent past implies a

state existing m or arrived at m the recent past, e.g., /nayebaki/,

'I knew', 'I came to know', or /ekokaki/, 'it was enough', 'it came
to be sufficient'.

The recent past often indicates something which happened

before something else m the past and thus translates like an
English past perfect, e.g., /aliaki ntangu na nayaki/, 'He had
eaten before I came'.

The past progressive is composed of the recent past of /-zala/

plus an infinitive, e.g., /nazalaki kolia/, 'I was eating'. The
past progressive indicates something that was going on or continuing
to happen for an indefinite short or temporary period, whereas the
recent past indicates a point m or definite block of time, e.g.,
/nazalaki kolia ntangu ayaki/ 'I was eating when he came.

5.6 Cardinal and Ordinal Numerals.

mposo ya misatu

Cardinal numerals like other adjectives follow the noun they

modify, e.g., /mposo misatu/, 'three weeks'; but unlike many ad-
jectives, /ya/ may not be inserted between a numeral and the noun
it modifies without a change of meaning because /ya/ plus a numeral
IS an ordinal, e.g., /mposo ya misato/, 'the third week'.

5.7 Telephone Numbers

Telephone numbers are given m French m two-digit numbers,

e.g., 'quatre-vmgts trois, cmquante dexxx ' , '8352'.

5.8 Plural of /mokama/, 'hundred'

/mikama/, 'hundreds', is used only m /mikama na mikama/,

'hundreds and hundreds'; elsewhere, the singular form is used,
e.g., /mokama nsambo/, 'seven hundred'.
Other numerals do not have plural form.

50
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 5

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Azali kokende wapi? Where is he going?

2. Otiki secretaire wapi? Where did you drop off the
secretary?

3. Bakendeki wapi? Where did they go?

L\.. Akei wapi? Where is he going? Where has

he just gone?

5- Bozalaka wapi? Where do you live?

6. Baliaka wapi? Where do you usually eat?

7. Ndako ya bmu ezali wapi? Where is your house?

8. Osalaka wapi? Where do you work?
9. Balobaka Lxngala wapi? Where is Lmgala spoken?
10. Olmgi kokende wapi? Where do you want to go?
Where are you about to go?

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Nakei raosala I 'm on the way to work.

2. Nakei na esika nasalaka . I 'm going to the place where

I work.

3- Azali mecanicien na esika He IS a mechanic at the place

nasalaka where I work.
f r t
1

\\. Azali na ntangu malamu . He ' s on time

5. Azali liboso na ntangu . He ' s early.

o. Azali nsima na ntangu. He '

s late .

7. Azali kokende mbangu na mosala ? He's hurrying to work.

o. Secretaire azali kokende The secretary is hurrying to

mbangu na mosala. work.
51
 . .

UNIT 5 LING A LA

9. Secretaire azalaki kosolola The secretary was talking

na nga i . to me

10. Mecanicien azalaki kosolola The mechanic was talking to

na nea i me.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Ozalaki kokende wapi'S Where were you going?

* * f
2.
p
Ozalaki komono mm?
I I
What were you looking at?
f f f
komono mm?
f

3 . Olmgaki What did you want to see?

^
h^. Olmgaki
° —
kokende komono t 1 1 I-
Did you want to go see the
monument ya Stanley ? monument to Stanley?

5. Bazalaki kokende komono Were they going to see the

monument ya Stanley? monument to Stanley?

6. Bazalaki kokende kolamba Were they leaving to fix

mbisi ? the fish?

7. Mwana azalaki kokende Was the child leaving to fix

kolamba mbisi? the fish?

0. Mwana azalaki na mpondu Did the child have manioc

na nyama , leaves and meat?
^ ^ / ^

9. Mam.a na yo azalaki na Did your mother have manioc

mpondu na nyama? leaves and meat?

10. Mama na yo akotikala na Is your mother going to

ndako? stay m the house?

GRAMMATICAL DRILL li

Read the numbers horizontally.

18 80 28 b) ^0 50 h 5
17 70 27 1^ 15 hS Sk
16 60 26 60 70 6 7

15 50 25 16 17 67 76
11+ I;0 2^ 20 30 2 3

52
 BASIC COURSE UN]

19 90 29 d) 36 63 33 66

16 15 13 2^ S2 22 SB
20 50 ko 67 76 77 66

25 22 27 19 99 9 11

38 68 18 8 88 38 78

200 102 202 f) 200 300 [|00

600 60i| 61+0 1500 1600 1700

317 307 371 1608 1919 2000

869 879 829 1962 2116 2^73

i|03 I4O2 1^30 8217 5353 ^962

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

Read the following times m Lmgala according to the model

given below.

-koma to arrive; become; begin

mmutu, miniti, mmuti minute (s)

Tokomi na ngonga ya moko na It's 1:20

mmutu ntuku mibale.

6:20 10:55

5:10 11:55

2:00 7:35

^:05 2:10

12:30 6:25

7:15 12:50

53
 . .. — <

UNIT 5 LING A LA

8:I^0 9:00

9:50 U:30
It 05

3.35 3:50

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

-bakisa to add

-lonKola to take away, remove

1. I—
Moko
— I
bakisa mokot-^ ekoki
1
, One and one is two
mibale

Mitano bakisa misato ,

Five and three is eight.
ekoki mwambe.

3. Nsambo bakisa libwa , ekoki Seven and nine is sixteen,

zomi na motoba.

Mmei bakisa mibale, ekoki Pour and two is six.

motoba

5. Libwa bakisa motoba , ekoki Nine and six is fifteen,

zomi na mitano.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 7

1. Mibale longola moko, Two minus one is one.

etikali moko. I I

2. Mmei longola mibale ,

Four minus two is two.
etikali mibale.

3 Ntuku mibale longola Twenty minus ten is ten.

zomi, etikali zomi.

5U
 '

BASIC COURSE UNIT 5

l\.. Ntuku misatu longola Thirty minus twenty-one is

ntuku mibale na moko, nine.
f f f f

etikali libwa.

5. Ntuku mwambe longola Eighty minus seventy is ten.

f f p p *

ntuku nsambo , etikali

zomi.

5.9 'Passive' Plural

Balobaka Lmgala wapi?

That something 'is done' is often expressed by the third

person plural, e.g., /Balobaka Lmgala wapi?/, 'Where is Lmgala
spoken?', 'Where do they speak Lmgala?' See also Note 10.2.

5.10 Adjectival Subordinate Glauses.

Nakei na esika nasalaka.

Adjectival subordinate clauses are not introduced by a

relative, but are placed after the noun they modify just like any
other adjective. Note /nasalaka/ m /Nakei na esika nasalaka /,
'I'm going to the place where I work .

5.11 /kosolola na/

Secretaire azalaki kosolola na ngai.

If followed by an object, /kosolola/ requires the particle

/na/, e.g., /Secretaire azalaki kosolola na ngai/, 'The secretary
was talking to me'.

55
 ' . .

UNIT 6 LING A LA

Unit 6

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. Mbote, mwana mwasi. Good afternoon, Miss,

2. Ee , mbote. Good afternoon.

-A-

'bureau office

3. Oyo bureau ya Monsieur Is this Mr. Antome's office?

Antome?
-B-

mmgi much, many

yango it, they, them

\\, Yango, kasi azali na It IS, but he's very busy today.
mosala mmgi
° lelo.
I I

-A-

likambo, ma- difference, dispute, case,

affair

5. Nalmgi naloba na ye I would like to tell him something.

likambo.

-B-

-lobela to speak to

te that. .

6. Nalobeli yo te almgi I just told you that he doesn't

.

II motu te lelo
komono III want to see anyone at his
na bureau na ye office today.

56
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 6

-A-

- tuna to ask, question

-kota, -koto to go/come m

7. Okoki kotuna ye te soko Would you ask him if I can come
almgi nakota?

8. Lobela ngai likambo olmgi. Tell me what you want.

-A-

-tala to look, look at,

stare at; guard
keep; concern; visit

9. Etali bisu mibale, yo te . It concerns only us, not you,

-boya to refuse, reject, not

want, despise

10. Soko oboyi, okokota na If you refuse (to tell me), you
bureau na ye te can't go m.

-A-

libota, ma- family, household; descent

11. Ezali likambo ya libota It concerns his family.

na ye

-B-

motu, mo to, ba- person, human being,

manj one, someone,
somebody

-kufa to die

12. Motu moko akufi?

I I
Has someone died?

57
 .. .

UNIT 6 LING A LA

-A-

noko ' ba-

t I
, maternal uncle (see Note
19.3.)

mpasi, m- sickness, suffering, pain,

misery, difficulty

ma ka s 1 strong, hard, difficult,

troublesome
/ ^ ^ / f
13 • Noko na ye azali na mpasi His uncle is gravely ill.
makasi.

-B-

too or

lopitalo, balopitalo hospital

(I'hopital)

14. Azali wapi, na ndako too Where is he, at home or at the

na lopitalo? hospital?

-A-

sika now, just now J new, recent

15 • Bakei na ye na lopitalo They have taken him to the

sika oyo hospital just now.

-B-

-zila to wait, wait for

16. Zila nayebisa ye. Wait and I'll tell him.

-A-

17. Melesi. Thanks

-B-

18. Likambo te You are welcome. Don't mention

it. It's nothing.

58
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 6

USEFUL PHRASES

Mokolo ezali malamu. The weather is nice.

I I I

Likolo ezali malamu. The sky is clear.

Mokolo ezali mabe. The weather is bad.

I I I

Likolo ezali mabe- The sky is cloudy.

Lelo mpio mmgi. It's cold today.

ft
Lelo mpio makasi.
'
It 's cold today.

Lelo moi mingi. It's hot today.

I I

Lelo moi makasi. It's hot today.

I t

Lelo mo lunge mingi. It's hot today. It's stifling

today.

Likolo eyei kitoko. It's clearing up.

Likolo eyei mabe. It's clouding up.

Mbula ezali konoko. It's raining.

Mbula ee konoko. It's raining.

likolo, ma- sky, heaven; upstream;

outside, exterior; on top,
over, on, above; surface;
because of

ma be bad, evil, ugly

mpio, m- cold

moi sun, sunlight, daylight,

the heat of the sun

mo lunge, mi- warmth, heat; fever,

sweat; stifling

kitoko beautiful, pretty, fine;

delicious, clean, neat

59
UNIT 6 LING A LA

mbula^ m- ram, year, rainy season

-no, -noko to ram

6.1 Equational Sentences

Oyo bureau ya Monsieur Antome?

Equational sentences are sentences which have no verb m

which (.1) two nouns are equated, e.g., /Mosala na ngai mecanicien/,
'I am a mechanic, ' (2) a pronoun and noun are equated, e.g., /Oyo
bureau ya Monsieur Antome*?/, 'Is this Mr. Antome's office*? or
(3) possession is demonstrative, e.g., /Ndako ya tata na bango/,
'The house belongs to their father In all three types there is
' .

an optional and equally current expression with the same meaning

m which the two parts of the equation are linked by /-zali/, e.g.,
/Mosala na ngai ezali mecanicien/, 'I am a mechanic'.

6.2 Non-animate Independent Pronouns

Yango

In Unit I the independent forms of the animate pronoun were

introduced. There is also an independent inanimate pronoun /yango/,
'it', 'they', 'them', which has the same form for singular and plu-
ral, e.g., /Pesa ye yango/, 'Give it to him', 'Give them to him'.

6.3 Subjunctive

Nalmgi naloba na ye likambo.

The subjunctive is marked by a high tone on the pronoun pre-

fix and a low tone imperfective suffix, e.g., /naloba/, 'that I

talk', as m /Nalmgi naloba na ye likambo/, 'I would like to tell

him something', literally, 'I want that I tell to him something'.
Using the subjunctive is a very polite way of making a request,
'I want to tell him something', would be construed with an infini-
tive after /-Imga/, as m
/Nalmgi koloba na ye likambo/.
60
 ' .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 6

The subjunctive is also used as an imperative, e.g., /Bolia/,

'Eat' (speaking to more than one person), or as a cohortative, e.g.,
/Tolia/, 'Let's eat'.

The subjunctive is also used to ascertain what another person

wants done, e.g., /Nalia?/, 'Do you want me to eat? or 'Do you '

think I should eat?

To indicate obligation, i.e., 'should', 'ought to', /ekoki/

plus the subjunctive is used, e.g., /Ekoki akende/, 'He should go',
'He ought to go', 'It IS fitting that he go'.

6.1; Applicative Suffix

Nalobeli yo

The applicative suffix /-el-/ means 'to do something for or

to someone', e.g., /nalobeli yo/, 'I told (to) you'. The same
meaning can be expressed by /na/ as by /-el-/, e.g., /nalobi na
yo/, 'I told (to) you'.

6.5 Indirect Discoursei Particle /te/.

Nalobeli yo te almgi komono motu te

Indirect discourse is often mti'oduced by the optional par-

ticle /te/, 'that', as m /Nalobeli yo jte almgi komono motu te/,
'I told you that he didn't want to see anyone. ' /te/, 'that', is
/^'te// to distinguish it form /te/, 'not', which is // te// .

/te/ sometimes occurs m

indirect discourse even if there is
another particle at the beginning of the dependent clause, e.g.,
/Okoki kotuna ye te soke olmgi nakota?/, 'Can you ask him (that)
if I can come m? '

61
 . .

UNIT 6 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Mosala na yo nini'2 What's your occupation?

2. Mosala na ngai mecanicien . I am a mechanic.

3. Ndako ya mecanicien. The house belongs to the

mechanic.

\\. Ndako ya tata na bango . The house belongs to their

father.

5. Azali tata na bango. He IS their father.

6. Azali kokende na mosala. He IS on his way to work. He

1 %

has (already) left for work.

7. Nalmgi kokende na mosala. I 'm about to leave for work.

8. Nalmgi kokende kozwa nyama I want to get some meat.

9. Bana bazali kokende kozwa The children are going to get

nyama some meat.

10. Bana bazali komata mabanga . The children are climbing the
rocks.

GRA.MMATICAL DRILL 2

Oyo bureau ya Monsieur Zola. This IS Mr. Zola's office.

Oyo ndako ya Monsieur Zola. This IS Mr. Zola's house.

Oyo ndako monene . This IS a big house.

Fesa ye ya monene Give him the big one.

Pesa ye mosala . Give him a job.

Tozali kokende na mosala

1 1
We are going to work.

Tozali kokende ko tuna ye . We are going to ask him.

f f f * f
Mwasi akoki kotuna ye. The woman can ask him.

62
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 6

9. Mwasi akoki koboya koloba The woman can refuse to talk

na mobali . to the man.

10. Mwana azali koboya koloba The child is going to refuse

na mobali. to speak to the man.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Nalobeli yo te nazali na I just told you that I'm busy.

mosala

2. Nalobeli ye azila . I told him to wait.

3. Tuna ye azila. Ask him to wait.

4. Tuna bango bakota . Ask them to come m.

5- Almgi bango bakota. He wants them to come m.
o. Almgi
O kokende I 1
na ndako. He wants to go home.

7. Almgi
O akende I 1
na ndako. He's leaving for home right
away.
' ' '
o. Almgi ayeba likambo nmi'
He wants to know what it is.
ezali .

f f f p f /
9. Almgi ayeba soko okoki He wants to know if you can
kosala yango . do it.
^ / ^ ft *
10. Almgi ayeba soko osalaka He wants to know if you work
na GEGEAG. at C.E.G.E.A.C.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

1. Tokende kolia.
I t
Let's go eat.

2. Tokende kozwela ye nyama Let's go get him some meat,

3. Tokende na ndako. Let ' s go home

63
 . I . .

UNIT 6 LING A LA

1|. Tolia na ndako. Let's eat at home.

5. Tolia liboso ya kokende . Let's eat before going.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

Balmgi baloba na yo They would like to talk to you.

Balmgi koloba na yo. They want to talk to you.

Balmgi kokende na yo. They want to go with you.

Balmgi bakende na yo, They would like to go with you.

Balmgi kolia na yo They want to eat with you.

Balmgi balia na yo They would like to eat with you.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

Mosala na yo nmi? What's your occupation?

Mosala na yo mecanicien . You are a mechanic.

f f f f *
Mosala na yo ezali makasi . Your work is difficult.

Ndako oyo ezali makasi. This house is well-built.

Ndako oyo ezali ya ta ta This house belongs to their

ya bango . father.

Oyo ndako ya tata ya bango, This is their father's house.

Kende kolobela tata ya Go talk to their father.

banso Go talk on behalf of their father,

8. Kende kolobela ye te Go tell him a member of his

motu moko akufi. I — family has died.

9. Kende kotuna ye soko

1 I s! 1 1-
Go ask him if a member of his
motu moko akufi. I I
family has died.
10. II
Kende kotuna ye soko
II azali "^
Go ask him if she is at home or
na ndako too na lopitalo, at the hospital.

6U
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 6

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 7

1. Nalmgi naloba na ye likarnbo I would like to tell him

something.

Nalmgi ayaa kotala ngai ,

I want him to come see me.

Nalmgi oyebisa ye . I want you to inform him.

/ ^ ^ f
Zila oyebisa ye. Wait to advise him.
f * f p
Zila o tuna ye . Wait to ask him.
f * f /
Almgi o tuna ye He wants you to ask her.
f f p f
Almgi alia sika oyo . He would like to eat right
away.
p p f f f
Atuni alia sika oyo. He asked to eat right away.

9 Atuni ngai nayaa . He asked me to come.

10 Batuni ngai nayaa. I was asked to come.

65
UNIT 7 LING A LA

Unit 7

Basic Sentences

Na zando At the market.

-A-

teke, -teka to sell

litungulu, ma- onion, leek

boni how much, how many

1. Tata, oteka matungulu How much are you asking for

nsambo boni? seven onions? What do you
want for seven onions?

-B-

falanga, fa lanka (franc) franc(s)

t r f p
2. Oyo ya mmene falanga zomi The big ones are sixteen francs,
na motoba.

-A-

boongo thus, so, likewise,

therefore

3. Boongo, ya mike? And the little ones?

-B-

\\. Falanga mwambi. Eight francs.

-A-

5. Nalmgi mibale ya mmene I'd like two big ones and four
na mmei ya mike. little ones.

. p ft
o. Nakanga motoba? Should I wrap up the six?

66
 . ,

BASIC COURSE UNIT 7

-A-

7. Ee.
I I
Yes.

-B-

o. Pesa falanga nsambo. That will be seven francs.

-somba to buy

pilipili red pepper; (black pepper)

9. Osomba pilipili te? Don't you want to buy any

peppers?

-luka to hunt, search for

-lukela to get for someone

mpata five-franc piece

matabisi (matabiche) tip, gratuity, advantage,

profit, matabiche, some-
thing extra given as an
incentive to buy

10. Lukela ngai ya malamu, Pick me out some good ones for
/ / / /
ya mpata mibale, na ten francs. Also add the
matabisi. matabiche.

-B-

-zonga to go/come back

f * f f
11. Lelo matabisi ezali te There's no matabiche today,
f f f f
zonga lobi. come back tomorrow.

USEFUL PHRASES
P P ^ / / P
1. Mwasi na ngai akoyaa lelo My wife is coming this morning.
na ntongo

2. Mwasi na ngai akoyaa lelo My wife is coming this afternoon.

na mpokwa.

67
 . .

UNIT 7 LING A LA

3. Mwasi na ngai akoyaa lelo My wife IS coming tonight.

na butu.

l\.. Mwasi na ngai akoyaa lelo My wife IS coming at noon.

na midi.
* / ^ ^ f

5. Mwasi na ngai akoyaa lelo My wife IS coming at midnight.

na midi ya butu.

6. Mwasi na ngai akoyaa na My wife will arrive this week.

mposo oyo

7. Mwasi na ngai akoyaa na My wife will arrive this month.

sanza oyo.

o. Mwasi na ngai akoyaa lobi My wife will arrive the day

ekoyaa after tomorrow.

9. Mwasi na ngai ayaki lobi My wife arrived the day before

eleki. yesterday.
p f p p p p
10. Mwasi na ngai ayaki na My wife arrived last week.
mposo eleki.

ntongo, n- morning, forenoon (5-11)

midi noon (ll-2)

mpokwa, n- afternoon (2-6)

butu night (6-5)

p p
midi ya butu midnight (ll-l)

sanza moon, month

-leka to go past, past by; die;

surpass, excel, be more
than
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 7

7.1 Desiderative

oteka matungulu nsambo boni?

The desiderative is marked by a low tone imperfective suffix

and means 'to want to', 'to expect to', 'to care to', /Oteka matun-
gulu nsambo bom?/, 'What do you want for seven onions?', 'What do
you expect to get for seven onions? ', or /olia/, 'Do you want to
eat? ', 'Would you care to eat? ', 'Would you care for something to
eat?', 'You want/would like to eat...'

7.2 Nommalization of Adjectives

Both single-word and phrasal adjectives are nommalized by
the particle /ya/, e.g., /ya Monsieur Antome/, 'Mr. Antome's',
/ya ngai/, 'mine', and /ya monene/, 'a big one'. Nommalized ad-
jectives occur m the sentence like any other noun, e.g., /Ya
monene ezali kitoko/, 'The big one is beautiful'. In the plural,
the verb prefix is /bi-/ or sometimes /mi-/, e.g., /Ya mmene
bizali kitoko/, 'The big ones are beautiful'.

PATTERN DRILL 1

nam who
1. Lobela ngai likambo olmgi. Tell me what you want.

2. Lobela ngai akend^ki wapi . Tell me where he went.

3. Lobela ngai azali wapi . Tell me where he is.

Lj.. Lobela ngai azali nam . Tell me who he is.

, p p P P p p p
5. Lobela ngai soko azali na Tell me if he is home.
p
ndako.

6. Lobela ngai likambo oyo Tell me what he did.

asali .

p p p p p p p
7. Lobela ngai soki olmgi Tell me if you want to eat.
p
kolia

69
 — . .

UNIT 7 LING A LA

Lobe la ngai, mama na yo Tell me how your mother is.

azali malamu .

Lobe la ngai, okoyaa lobi Tell me if you're coming to my

na ndako ya ngai . house tomorrow.
f f f f f f p
10. Lobe la ngai, oyaki awa Tell me when you arrived.
ntango nini «

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

Nakoteke ndako na ngai. I will sell my house.

Nakoteke
1——I
le yo
iLo.
I
ndako na ngai, I will sell my house to you.

Nakotekele yo matungulu. I will sell you some onions.

Akosomba matungulu. He will buy some onions.

Akosomba —
loso na yo.
I —
I 1^-*-
He will buy rice from you.

Bakotikala na loso
II na yo "^ I
They will keep your rice.

Bakotikala na mbisi na yo. They will look after the fish

for you.

Tokosombela yo xnb i s i We will buy the fish for you.

9 Tokosombela yo nsoso . We will buy the chicken for you.

10 Akokangela yo nsoso. He'll wrap up the chicken for

you.

QUESTION AND ANSWER DRILL 1

1. Oyo ya mmene boni? How much are the big ones?

Oyo ya mmene mpata mmei . The big ones are twenty francs.

2. Oyo ya mike boni? How much are the small ones?

Oyo ya mike falanga zomi . The small ones are ten francs.

70
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 7

3. Nam asombeli yo matungulu? Who paid you for the onions?

Mwa s 1 oyo asombeli ngai This woman paid me for the

matungulu. onions.

I|-.
f
Ntango mm f f p
asombeli yo
p ^
When did she pay you for the
matungulu? onions?

Asombeli ngai yango lobi . She paid me for them yesterday.

5.
' '
Osombaki
'
mm?
'
What did you buy?
Nasombaki pilipili . I bought some peppers.

6. Matabisi mm olmgi What matabiche will (would)

opesa ngai? you give me?

Nalmgi napesa yo pilipili I'll (I'd) give you three

misatu. peppers.

7. Olmgi napesa yo bom? How many would you like?

f A f p f f
Nalmgi opesa ngai zomi. I 'd like ten.

8. Nakanga yango? Should I wrap them?

Soko olingi , kanga yango. Please wrap them.

9. Osombaki nyama yango ntangu When did you buy that meat?
mm?
Nasombaki yango lelo . I bought it today.

10. Nakoki kosomba pilipili zomi How much will ten peppers cost?
falanga bom?
Okoki kosomba falanga zomi You can buy (them) for twelve
na mibale. francs.

71
 — . .

UNIT 7 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL BRILL 2

etabe, bi- banana

lilala, ma- orange

ma desu beans

mbala, m- potato

Mwasi azali na madesu The woman has large beans.

ya mmene.
Nasombaki madesu ya mmene. I bought some large beans.

Nasombaki bitabe na I bought some bananas and some

matungulu . onions.
A r f 9 f
Mwana mobali azalaki koteka I
The boy was selling bananas
bitabe na matungulu. and onions.

Mwana mobali azalaki koteka The boy was selling peppers.

pilipili .

Moto moko akangeli ngai Someone wrapped up the peppers

pilipili. for me

Moto moko atekeli

I —+ ye
I
" 1
Somebody sold him some nice
ma la la ya malamu . oranges

Luke la ngai mala la ya malamu, Pick me out some nice oranges.

9. Luke la ngai mbala ya mmene . Pick me out some large potatoes,

10, Makanga mbala ya mmene*? Shall I wrap up the large pota-

toes .

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Osombela ngai matungulu Buy me ten franc's worth of

ya mpata mibale. onions

2. Osombela ngai mbisi na Buy me some fish at the store,

magazmi.
72
 . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 7

3. Naakozila yo na magazini. I'll be waiting for you at

the store.

14.. Naakozila yo na ndako ya I'll be waiting for you at

Polo . Paul '
s house
^ f f * *
3. Almgi asomba ndako ya Polo< He would like to buy Paul's
house
f r f r t
6. Almgi asomba madesu na yo He 'd like to buy all of your
nyonso . beans.

7. Akoki kosoinba madesu na yo He can sell all of your beans,

nyonso.

8. Akoki kosomba loso na tata He can sell the rice to my

ngai . father.

9. Akokaki koteke ya mike te . He couldn't sell the little

ones.

10. Akokaki kokanga ya mmene He couldn't wrap up the big

te. ones

PATTERN DRILL 2

Luke la ngai misatu ya malamu, Pick me out three good ones.

Luke la ngai mmei ya mmene . Pick me out four big ones.

Luke la ngai mitanu ya mike * Pick me out five little ones.

p p p p p p p
Kangela ngai mitanu ya mike. Wrap me up five little ones.
p p p p - p p p
Osombela ngai mitanu ya mike. Sell me five little ones.

Osombela ngai ma tungulu ya Sell me the onion for ten

mpata mibale . francs

Osombela ngai yango lobi . Buy them for me tomorrow.

Osombeli ngai yango lobi. You bought them for me yester-

day.

73
UNIT 7 LING A LA

9. Nalmgi napesa jo yango I'd like to give them to you

lobi. tomorrow.

10. Nalmgi opesa ngai falanga I want you to give me ten francs.
zomi .

PATTERN DRILL 3

1. Olia etabe? Would you care for a banana?

Ee , nalia etabe. Yes, I'd like a banana.

2. Oteka madesu te?

I I I
Don't you want to sell the beans?
A f / /

—
Te, i-j
kasi nateka ma la la.
I
No, but I'd like to sell the
oranges.

3. Oyaa na ngai na Kisangani? Do you want to go to Stanleyville

with me?

Ee, nalmgi koyaa na yo Yes, I'd like to go to Stanleyville

na Kisangani. with you.

I|.. Asomba mbala? Would he like to buy some potatoes?

/

Ee, asomba mbala. Yes, he'd like to buy some pota-

toes.

7.3 Interrogative relative pronouns

Lobela ngai akendeki wapi.

Interrogative relative pronouns occur at the end of the sub-

ordinate clause, e.g., /Lobela ngai akendeki wapi/, 'Tell me where
he went', literally, 'Tell me he went where.'

7.14- Potential Juncture Before Relative Clauses

ft // r r r f f
Lobela ngai, oyaki awa ntango mm.
There is a potential juncture, i.e., optional pause, between

ih
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 7

the mam and subordinate clauses. This juncture is marked by a

comma / , /. The juncture nearly always occurs if the subordinate
clause has more than about seven or eight syllables.

7.5 /-tikala/ Plus Object

Bako tikala na loso na yo.

/-tikala/ has the particle /na/ if followed by an object,

e.g., /Bakotikala na loso na yo/, 'They will keep your rice. '

7.6 Please
f f f / f
Soko olingi, kanga yango.

/Soko olmgi,/, 'If you are willing', is used for politeness,

much like English 'Please,', or French s il vous plait'.
' '

75
 '

UNIT 8 LING A LA

Unit 8

Basic Sentences

NA POMPI YA ESSENCE AT THE FILLING STATION

-A-

-tiya to put, put m, set,

pour m
-tiela, -tiyela, to put for I someone)
-tila
'litre '
liter

'essence gasoline

1. Mwana, tiela ngai litres Boy, put m five liters of

mitanu ya essence, soko gasoline for me, please,
olmgi.
-B-

meya, lomeya 50- centime piece

2. Pesa mpata mibale na meya. That will be 12.5 francs (12,5?. )»

-A-

mafuta oil, grease, fat

mai water

3. Na nsima tala mafuta After that, look at the oil

na mai. and water.

-B-

ai oh, hey

-sila . to finish, be done, finished

\\. Ai, mafuta esili. Hey, there's no oil.

76
 BASIC COURSE UNIT

-A-

Imzanza, ma- metal box, tin can,

iron sheet

5. Tiya Imzanza moko ya ntuku Put m a 50-centiliter can.

mitanu centilitres.

-B-

lisusu again, besides, else, other

0. Boongo na nsima nasala What else can I do for you?

lisusu mm?
-A-

-bongo, -bonga to be suitable, be m

order, come along well

-bongisa to put m order, arrange,

prepare, repair,
straighten, organize

lokolo, ma- leg, foot; tire, wheel

wana , waana that; there

-zanea to be lacking, miss, be

without; be absent, skip,
miss, omit

mopepe, mi- air, wind

7. Obongisa lokolo wana ya Fix that back tire that is flat.

nsima ezangi mopepe. Have that back tire fixed that
IS flat.

-B-

o. Boongo, okozila mwaa moke All right, (but) you will (have
to) wait a little while.

-A-
9. Te nakei, nakozonga na nsima. No, I'm leaving, I'll come back
later.
77
 . .

UNIT 8 LING A LA

USEFUL PHRASES

Ayebi kotambwisa motuka. He knows how to drive.

f f f f f f
Ayebi epai bakoki kozwa He knows where you can get
ebende ya motuka. automobile parts.

Ayebi ndenge ya kobongisa He knows how to repair auto-

motuka. mobiles .

Ayebi likambo ntma. He understands the matter.

Nasili kosukola motuka. I've already washed the car.

Nasili nasukoli motuka. I 've just now finished washing

the car.
ft f
Nauti kosukola motuka. I 'vejust this instant finished
washing the car.

Mesa oyo ebongi na ngai. This table is suitable for me.

Bilamba oyo bibongi na ngai. These clothes look good orv me.

Kiti oyo ebongi na mesa wana This chair goes well with that
table

Kanga motuka. Lock the car.

Kangola motuka. Unlock the car.

Sembola Lmgala , Lmgala Look after Lmgala, and Lmgala

likosembola yo will look after you.

Use good Lmgala, and Lmgala

will serve you well.

- tambola to take a walk, travel

move, make progress,
hurry up

- tambwisa to cause to progress,

drive a car, spread
put m motion, start

78
 BASIC GOUESE UNIT 8

motuka, mi- automobile, truck

epai, bi- side; part; direction;

district; where

ebende, bi- piece of metal, iron,

com, metal part
nt ma, n- root; basis; meaning
reason, significance,
principle

ntma na because of, on account of,

therefore

-sukola to wash, clean; tell

someone off

-uta to come from, be on the

way from

uta (see Note 8.9' from, since

mesa table

kiti chair

-kangola to release, let go of,

loose, open, unroll,
unlock, unfasten

-semba to extend, be right,

be upright

- sembola to put right, straighten

up, make vertical

79
UNIT 8 LINGALA

NOTES

8.1 Vowel and Semi-vowel Elision.

/y/ between vowels is often elided, e.g., /-tiyela/, 'to

put for someone,' is often /-tiela/.

/e/ after /i/ is often elided, e.g., /-tiela/ is often

/-tila/.

8.2 Reversive

The reversive extension /-ol-/ has two functions'. (l) neg-

ative, and (2) directive. (l) The negative reversive indicates
the opposite or negative of the verb base, e.g., /-kanga/, 'to
fasten', 'lock', 'hold', /-kangola/, 'to unfasten', 'unlock',
'release'. (2) The directive reversive indicates direction away
from or off of , e.g., /-kaba/, 'to give', 'state', 'divide',
'shave', /-kabola/, 'to hand out', 'distribute', 'divide up',
'separate' /-palola/, 'to skin', 'peel', 'scrape (off)', /-pasola/
'to tear (off)', 'cleave', 'split (off)', 'saw', 'clear (away)',
/-papola/, 'to make thinner', 'shave off', 'remove an excess'.

8.3 Reversive Stative

The extension /-w-/ before a vowel or /-u-/ before a con-

sonant marks existence m the reverse state of the base, e.g.,
/-kangwa/, 'to be open(ed)', 'be unlocked', or /-sembwa/, 'to be
m an upright position', -pasuka/, 'be worn out'. Though the
reversive stative suffix occurs with many common bases, the stu-
dent should avoid using stems with it that he has not previously
seen because it is incompatible with many bases and occurs with
many others only m
combination with certain other extensions.
This will be studied further m
Notes 13.1 and 13.2.
 . ,

BASIC COURSE UNIT 8

8.1(. Derived Stems Without Simple Stems

There are many derived stems, i.e., base plus verbal exten-
sions, for which there is no corresponding simple stem, i.e., base
without verbal extension! s) , e.g., /-yekola/, 'to study; / -yeka/
does not occur. Because of this the student should not make ana-
logical back formations of simple stems from derived stems. This
IS especially true of derived stems with /-ol-/ or /-w-/.

8.5 Causative

Obongisa lokolo wana

The causative extension /-is-/ means 'to cause to do', 'to

make someone do', 'have someone do', e.g., /Obongisa lokolo wana/,
'Fix that tire', 'Have that tire fixed', 'Make someone fix that
tire '
.

When /-IS-/ occurs after a reversive extension, some stems

take /-ol-/ as the reversive, others take /-w-/, and others take
both with different meanings, e.g., /-tambwisa/, 'to drive a car',
but /- tambolisa/, 'to take a person for a walk'. In general, /-ol-/
IS used with animate objects and /-w-/ is used -with inanimate ob-
jects, but there are many exceptions.

8.6 Degree of Immediate Past

In Note 2.5. the immediate past was characterized as some-

thing that has 'just' happened, but it was also shown that the
period of time covered by the immediate past is often somewhat
longer than what we mean m English by 'just' happened, e.g.,
/Nasili kosukola motuka/, 'I've already washed the car', 'I've
just washed the car'. This could even mean several days ago. To
indicate that something has been done m the last five or ten
minutes or so, one uses /Nasili nasukoli motuka/, I've just now
finished washing the car'. But to indicate even more immedia teness
one uses /Nauti kosukola motuka/, 'I've just this instant finished
 . 1 . .

UNIT 8 LING A LA

washing the car', literally 'I have come from washing the car',
I.e., 'the last thing I did before the moment of speaking was wash
the car '

8.7 Proverb Concordance

^ f f f * f f
Sembola Lmgala, Lmgala likosembola yo

literary form very highly regarded

Proverbs are a Africa. m
In Lmgala proverbs, subject prefixes to the verb take the liter-
ary style of prefix concordances, e.g., the proverb above the m
literary form /likosembola/ occurs and not the usual form /_ekosem-
bola/. Compare Note \\..Z.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Na nsima tala mafuta. After that, look at the oil.

2. Na liboso tala mafuta. Before that, look at the oil.

3. Na liboso mwana ati Imzanza Before that, the boy put m a

moko ya ntuku mitanu ya 50-centiliter can of oil.
mafuta .

i\..
f f f
Nalobeli mwana atiya Imzanza
^ r
I told the boy to put m a
moko ya ntuku mitanu cen- 50-centiliter can of oil.
tilitre ya mafuta.

5.
r r f
Nalobeli mwana atiya litres
r A
I told the boy to put m twenty
ntuku mibale ya essence . liters of gasoline.

6. Motu wana a ling litres That man wants twenty liters of

ntuku mibale ya essence. gasoline

7. Motu wana almgi bobongisela That man wants to have his tire
ye lokolo ya motuka . fixed.

8. Tata na ye almgi bobongisela His father wants to have his

ye lokolo ya motuka. tire repaired.

82
 i . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 8

9. Tata na ye almgi nazila ye . His father wants me to wait

for him.

10. Mvra si na nga almgi nazila My wife wants me to wait for

ye. her.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

Answer the questions according to the cues.

1. Okendeki ntango mm? What time did you leave?

ft f
Nakendeki na ngonga ya mmei , I left at four o'clock.

2. Osalaka mm na ntongo? What do you do m the morning?

Mayekolaka na ntongo I study mornings.

3.
'
Oyaki mokolo
f
mm
f
na Leo?
f
When did you arrive m Leopold-
ville?
* * p ^
Nayaki na mposo eleki . I arrived last week.
.

i|.
f
Nasala
f
mm
* *
na nsoso oyo
t p
What should I do with the rest
etikali? of the chicken?
'
t p p
Pesa ye nsoso oyo etikali.
t f f ftp
Give him the rest of the
chicken.

5. Bozalaki koloba mm? What were you talking about?

Tozalaki koloba likambo We are talking about women.
ya ba s 1 .

6. Balmgi litres bom ya How many liters of gasoline

essence? do they want?

Balmgi litres ntuku misatu They want thirty liters of

ya essence . gasoline

7 Falanga bom ape si na mwasi? How many francs did he give

the woman?

83
 . .

UNIT 8 LING A LA

Ape SI ye nkama moko . He gave her one hundred.

8. Otiki lokolo na motuka Where did you leave the tire?

wapi?
r r r * /
Natiki yango na esika ya I left it at the filling station.
koteka essence.
1

9. Obandi mosala? Have you started working?

^ p p ^ ^
Nabandi mosala uta ngonga I started working at one o'clock.
ya moko . I have been working since one
o 'clock.

10. Obandi mosala ntangu mm? How long have you been working?
f f ^ f f
Nabandi mosala uta ngonga I have been working for one

——
moko.
I I-
hour.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Natiisi ye mafuta na I had him put some oil m the

motuka car.

2. Natiisi ye litres ntuku I had him put m thirty litres

misatu ya essence . of gasoline.

3. Natiisi ye lokolo ya sika I had him put a new tire on

na motuka . my car.

]\. Tosombaki lokolo ya sika We bought a new tire for the car.
na motuka.

5. Tosombaki makolo na motuka . We bought some tires for the car.

6. Abongiselaki bisu makolo ya He repaired the tires for us.

mo tuka
f * f * * f f
7. Abongiselaki bisu motuka He repaired the car for us while
ntangu tozalaki komela we were drinking a Coke.
Coca-Cola
 . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 8

o. Abongiselaki bisu motuka He repaired the car for us

ntangu tozalaki kozila . while we were waiting.
f f f f f f *

9. Abongiselaki bisu motuka He repaired the car for us

f f ^ f f

ntangu tozalaki kolia midi while we had lunch.

' / ' / r f p
10. Abongiselaki bisu motuka He repaired the car for us
f p p *
ntangu mbula ezalaki while it was raining.
konoko I *

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

1. Alobaki na mwana aloba She told the child to say it

lisusu. again.

2. Alobaki na mwana akanga She told the child to close

ndako . the door.
p ^ f p /
3. Akangisaki ndako na mwana She had the child close the
door. She had the door
closed by the child.
r f r r r
h,. Akangisaki buuku na bana . She had the children close
their books.
, f p f f f
5. Bapesaki buuku na bana. They gave the children some
books

6. Bapesaki bmu miniti zomi They gave you ten minutes to

* f / /
mpo na kosilisa mosala . finish the job.
* p f f f /
7. Bapesaki ngai motuka They gave me another car to
mosusu ya kotambwisa . drive

8. Nalmgi motuka mosusu ya I need another car to drive.

kotambwisa

9. Nalingi essence na Imzanz; I want some gasoline m this

can.

10. Tiela ngai litres zomi ya Put ten liters of gasoline m

essence na lizanza oyo this can for me.
85
UNIT 8 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

1. Nasili kobongisela mobali I've already repaired the tire

oyo lokolo ya motuka. for the man.

2. Nasili nabongiseli mobali I 've just now finished repairing

oyo lokolo ya motuka. the tire for the man.

3. Nauti kobongisela mobali I 've just this instant finished

oyo lokolo ya motuka. repairing the tire for the
man.
r . f ' '
[).. Nauti kotiya litres mitanu I 've just this instant fin-
ya essence na motuka . ished putting five liters
of gasoline m the car.

5. Nasili kotiya litres mitanu I 've already put five liters

ya essence na motuka. of gasoline m the car.

6. Nasili natii litres mitanu I 've just now put five liters
ya essence na motuka. of gasoline m the car.

7. Nasili natali mafuta na mai . I 've just now looked at the oil
and water.

o. Nasili kotala mafuta na mai. I've already looked at the oil

and the water.
^ / / / f

9. Nauti kotala mafuta na mai. I've just this instant looked

at the oil and the water.

10. Nauti kosukola motuka. I 've just this instant finished

washing the car.

PATTERN DRILL 1

1. Ayebi kobongisa motuka. He knows how to repair cars

2. Ayebi eloko akosala . He knows what to do.

3. Ayebi kotambwisa motuka. He knows how to drive.

 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 8

l\.. Ayebi likambo mm ezali . He knows what's the matter.

5. Ayebi epai bakoki kozwa He knows where to get parts

ebende ya motuka . for automobiles.

6. Ayebi mokolo mm akozonga He knows what day she returns

na Le o . to Leopoldville

7. Ayebi mpo na mm batu He knows why the men stopped

batiki mosala . working.

o. Ayebi ntangu mm bakei . He knows when they left.

9.
f f
Ayebi ndenge
f f
mm
*
bakoki
f
He know how to unlock the door,
kofungola monoko ya ndako .

10. Ayebi na ngonga bom bakoki He knows how fast it can be

kosilisa mosala . done

11. Ayebi likambo ntma. He comprehends the problem.

8.8 Non-aplicative Verbs With Two Objects.

Pesa ye nsoso oyo etikali.

Certain verbs, such as /-pesa/, 'to give', take two objects

even though the verb doesn't have the applicative extension, e.g.,
. * p f f p f f f f .

/Pesa ye nsoso oyo etikali/, 'Give him the rest of the chicken'.

8.9 Functionally-specialized Use of Imperative.

/ r t r f r f
Nabandi mosala uta ngonga ya moko.

Certain verbs indicating stopping, starting, origin, or des-

tination, are used m
the imperative to mark the beginning or end
of an interval of time or space, e.g., the sentence above, 'I have

been working since one o'clock', literally, 'I started working

begin(ning orve, o'clock'.
)

87
 . .

UNIT 9 LING A LA

Unit 9

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. Olmgi mosala? Are you looking for work?

-B-

2. Nalmsi. I am.

-A-

3. Oyebi mosala mm? What do you know how to do?

-B-

-ngoma to iron, press

i|. Kolamba, kobongisa ndako, Cooking, house work, washing,

kosukola bilamba, mpe and ironing.
kongoma

-A-

5,. Malamu, mosala na yo Pine, your job (will be) the

kosukola bilamba. laundry.
' ' ' '
6. Nakopesa yo na sanza I will give you one thousand
nkoto moko. Olmgi? francs per month. Is that
satisfactory?

-B-

7. Eleki moke, bakisa lisusu That's too little, add three

nkama misatu. hundred francs more.

o.
II osali malamu, boongo
Soke
nakobakisa
JO If you do good work, I'll
increase you.

9. Olmgi kobanda mosala lobi? Do you want to start to work

tomorrow?
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 9

- fi-

le . Te, kasi nalmgi kobanda No , but I want to start the

mosala lobi ekoyaa. day after tomorrow.

-A-

til, tee, ti until; a long time; far

11. Malamu, mosala na yo Good, your working hours will be

ekozala uta ngonga ya from 7.00 A.M. to 5tOO P.M.
nsambo ya ntongo, tee
na ngonga ya mitanu ya
mpokwa

12. Kokomaka nsima ya ntangu Don't get m the habit of bem^

te. late.

13. Te, nakoyaa na ntangu No, I won't. I'll be on time

malamu.

USEFUL PHRASES

Limbisa ngai. Excuse me. Pardon me.

Lekisa ngai. Let me pass. Let me by.

Lata bilamba mpembe Put on clean clothes.

Longola bilamba mbindu na nzotu. Take off your dirty clothes,

Longwa .'
Scram.' Get lost.'

Tanda mbetu. Make the bed.

Tanda mesa. Set the table.

Sukola basani. Wash the dishes.

* A f r *
Sukola tasi na sani ya tasi, Wash the cup and saucer.

Sukola kopo na lutu. Wash the glass and spoon.

89
 . . ) . .

UNIT 9 LING A LA

Sukola mbeli, kanya , na nkele. Wash the knives, forks, and

spoons
f f f f f > '
Kitisela ngai sanduku na nse Send my suitcase down.

sanduku na nse. Bring my suitcase down.

Ill nsai
Memele °

sanduku na likolo. Bring my suitcase up.

Ill nsai
Memele °

Butisela ngai sanduku na likolo, Send my suitcase up.

> » f ft f '
Butisela ngai sume na saboni. Send me up some towels and soap.

Komela likaya te No smoking.

Kokota te Do not enter.

I I

-limbisa to forgive, pardon, excuse

-lata to dress, put on clothes

nzotu, nzoto, n- body

- tanda to spread, stretch out

mesa table

mbetu, mbeto, m- bed, pallet

sani, ba- dish, bowl, plate, basin

tasi (tasse) cup

kopo glass, tumbler, cup

lutu spoon

mbeli knife

kanya , nkanya , ( n- fork

lokele, n- spoon

-kita to go/come down, descend;

decrease, dimmish

sanduku, (ba-) box, chest, trunk, suitcase,

nse, n- earth, world; bottom; down,

under, beneath
90
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 9

te carry, transport

-but a to rise, ascend, climb

(up), creep (up), go
up, increase

sume ( essuie-mam) towel, wash cloth

saboni (savon) soap

likaya, ma- tobacco, cigarette, cigar

NOTES

9.1 Comparison of Intensity

The 'comparison' of intensity, i.e., 'to be very', 'to be

too', IS expressed by the verb /-leka/, e.g., /Eleki moke/, 'It
IS too little', 'It's very small', literally 'It surpasses small-
ness'. See also Note 15.3.

9.2 Definite Condition

Soke osali malamu, nakobakisa

If a proposition is true or affirmed to be true, the if-

clause has the immediate past and the result clause the future,
e.g., /Soko osali malamu.nakobakisa/, 'If you do good work,
(then It IS certain that) I'll raise your pay'.

9.3 General Prohibitions

Kokomaka nsima ya ntangu te.
Komela likaya te

The combination of an infinitive plus /te/ is used for gen-

eral prohibitions, e.g., /Komela likaya te/, 'No smoking'.

91
 ' .

UNIT 9 LING A LA

9.1| Special Meanings of Derived Stems

pkoki kotekisa yango

Derived stems often have a specialized meaning that cannot

be guessed and therefore must be learned as a vocabulary item, e.g.,
otekisa/, 'to resell at a profit', as m /Soki obongisi ndako oyo,
okoki kotekisa yango/, 'If you have this house repaired, you can
resell it at a profit'.

9.5 /tee/ Followed by /na/

p p p p p
tee na ngonga ya mitanu ya mpokwa

When preceding a temporal phrase, /tee/ is followed by /na/,

as m the phrase above, 'until 5^00 P.M.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Osukolaki lisusu bilamba? Have you washed the clothes yet?

2. Nasili nasukolaki bilaraba. I have just finished washing the

clothes.

3. Nasili kobongisa ndako . I 've already straightened up the

house

\\. Lobela ye abongisa ndako. Tell him to straighten up the

the house.

. p p p p p
5. Lobela ye angoma bilamba Tell him to press the clothes
p
sika oyo . right away.
. p p p p p
D. Loba na ye soko almgi Ask him if he can press the
kongoma bilamba sika oyo. clothes right away.
p p p p p
7. Loba na ye soko almgi Ask him if he can come this
koyaa lelo na mpokwa . afternoon.

92
 4
I . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 9

8. Oyebi soko akoyaa lelo Do you know if he can come

na mpokwa? this afternoon?

9. Oyebi soko azali lisusu na Do you know if he is home yet?

ndako na ye?

10. Ayebi te soko azali lisusu

, He doesn't know if he is still
na ndako na ye. home

PATTERN DRILL 1

Soko oyei lelo, nakopesa If you come today, I'll give

yo nkama moko. you one hundred francs.
f f p p f p t
Soki
— *
osombi moko,
p
1-'
p
nakopesa
^
p
1 —
p
If you buy one, I'll give you
yo nkama moko one hundred francs.

3. Soki osombi moko

I I I
bako- If you buy one, I'll have the
bongi sa mosusu, other repaired.
. p p p p p p
4. Soki obongisi ndako oyo , If you have this house repaired,
p
bakobongisa mosusu. they will repair the other one
. / ' p p p p

5. Soki obongisi ndako oyo, If you have this house repaired,

okoki kotekisa yango . you can resell it at a profit.
, f p p p p p p
6.
—Soko ozili sanza moko,
1
p p
1 y.'
p
If you wait a month, you can
okoki kotekisa yango. sell them at a profit.

7. Soki ozili sanza moko,

I 11' If you wait a month, you can
okokende na Leo.
' I
go to Leopoldville

o. Soki ozali na nkoto moko, If you have a thousand francs,

okokende na Leo. you can go to Leopoldville.
p p p p p p
9. Soki ozali na nkoto moko,
I 11' If you have a thousand francs,
okoki kosomba bilamba . you can buy some clothes.
p p p p p
10. Soko okei na Leo, okoki
I I
'
If you go to Leopoldville, you
kosomba bilamba. can buy some clothes.

93
 . .

UNIT 9 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Mosala na bisu esilaka na We get off from work at 5jOO

ngonga ya mitanu ya mpokwa, P.M.

2. Mosala na bisu es111 na We finished our work early.

ntangu malamu .

3 Tokomi na ndako na ntangu We arrived home early.

ma lamu

4. Tokomi na ndako liboso We arrived home before it

mbula ebanda konoko. —
I
»-
started to ram.
r f f A t r >

5. Tosilisaki kosomba biloko We finished shopping before it

f p f f
liboso mbula ebanda konoko started to ram

6. Tosilisaki kosomba biloko I I

We finished shopping and went
mpe tokei na ndako. home.

7. Mosala ekokaki na bisu There weren't enough jobs for

nyonso te ntma na all of us, and therefore we
yango tokei na ndako. went home.

o. Mosala elekaki makasi The work was too hard, and be-
ntma na yango tokei cause of that we came home.
na ndako.

9. Mosala elekaki makasi ntangu The work is so hard that there

ya komela likaya ezalaki te . isn't (even) time to smoke.

10. Mosala elekaki makasi ntangu There's so much work that there
ya kolia ezalaki te . isn't (even) time to eat.

9if
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 9

1 GRAMMATICAL DRILLS 3

* r p f r f t
1. Boi akangoleli ngai ndako. The houseboy opened the door
for me.

2. Boi asukoleli ngai bilamba . The houseboy washed my clothes.

3. Nasukolelisi boi bilamba. I had the boy wash my clothes.

I|-. Nasukolelisi boi bilamba I had the boy wash the sheets.
ya mbetu .

5» Angomiseli boi bilamba ya She had the boy iron the sheets.
mbe tu
, r r r r ^ r
0. Angomiseli ye elamba ya mesa . She had him iron the tablecloth.
p p p p
7. Alongolaki elamba ya mesa. She put away the table cloth.

8. Alongolaki basani ya sika . She put away the new dishes.

p p p p p

9. Azongisaki basani ya sika. She put back the new dishes.

10. Akamataki basani ya sika. She got out the new dishes.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL i+

1. Longolisa bana bilamba Have the children take off

mbmdu na nzotu. their dirty clothes.
' ' ' ' '
2. Longolisa bana bilamba Have the children take off
mp^mb^ na nzotu. their clean clothes.
f f f / t r r
3. Latisa bana bilamba mpembe Have the children put on their
clean clothes.

h,. Latisa mama mpet^ na ye . Have mother wear her ring.

5. Memel^ mama mpete na ye. Bring mother her ring.

6. M^m^l^ ngax sanduku na Bring my suitcase up,

likolo .

95
UNIT LING A LA

7. Butisela ngai sanduku na Have my suitcase brought up.

likolo.

8. Butisela ngai sume na saboni . Send me some towels and soap.

9. Memele ngai sume na saboni. Bring me some towels and soap,

p f A f f f
10. Kitisela ngai sume na saboni Send me down some towels and
na nse . soap.

PATTERN DRILL 2

1. Nauti Inaj mosala. m just returning from work.

m on my home from work.
ve just returned from work.

2. Nauti kosala, ve just returned from work.

3. Nauti (na; Kinsasa. ve just come from Leopoldville

m on my way from Leopoldville.

\\. Nakomi Ina; Kinsasa, ve arrived from Leopoldville.

ve come from Leopoldville.

5. Nakei (na) Kinsasa, m leaving for Leopoldville.

m on the way to Leopoldville.
m going to Leopoldville.

PATTERN DRILL 3

1. Nalmgi bolongola mafuta I want the oil chaneed.

ya liboso botiya ya sika.

2. Nalmgi kotambolisa mwana I want to take my son for a walk.

na ngai ya mo ball .

96
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 9

3. Nalmgi kokende kotarabola I want to go for a drive.

na rgo tuka .

i|. Nalmgi kotambwisa mo tuka I want to drive my daughter's

ya mwana na ngai ya mwasi . car.

5. Nalmgi motu moko asukola I want someone to wash my car.

mo tuka .

9.6 /liboso/ Plus Subjunctive

Tokomi na ndako liboso mbula ebanda konoko.

I t

When nouns such as /liboso/, 'front', are used to introduce

temporal clauses, the verb of the temporal clause is the sub- m
juntive, as m
the sentence above, 'We arrived home before it
started ram ' .

97
UNIT 10 LING A LA

Unit 10

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. AloJ (allS) Hello.

-B-

2. Alo, nam wana? Hello, who's speaking?

-A-

3. Ngai, Bonifasi. This IS Boniface,

-B-

l\.. Dii, Bonifasi, olmgi Hi, Boniface, what do you want?

mm?
-A-

-tmda to send, order, command

. f A f At
5. Nalmgi otmdela ngai I'd like you to send me your
A f f
buuku na yo ya Lmgala. Lmgala book.

-B-

6. Boongo ya yo, otiki wapi? Where did you leave yours?

-A-

-bosana to forget; be mistaken,

make a mistake
kelasi (classe) class, classroom, school

7. Nabosam yango na kelasi. I forgot and left it m the

classroom.
 . . ,

BASIC COURSE UNIT 10

i. Bom, nakotmdela yo Boni, I'll send it to you by

yango na mwana my little brother.

-A-

9. Melesi. Thanks

-B-

10. Likambo te Don't mention it.

-A-

11. Ee , kokanga namu teJ Hey, don't hang up yet.'

12. Okende wapi lelo na Where are you planning on gom^

mpokwa*? this evening?

-B-

-kana to resolve, intend,

promise, threaten

-kanisa to think, reflect,

s mema ( c mema ) movies

13. Nakanisi (te) nakokende I I

I think I'll go to the movies
na smema lelo I I
na mpokwa
^ this evening.

-A-

II4.. Olmgi tokende bisu Would you like for me to go

mibale? with you?

-B-

-biina to go out, come out, go

for a walk, emerge

15. Ee , nalmgi, nakobima na Yes, of course, I'm leaving

ngonga ya mwambi. at eight o 'clock.

99
UNIT LING A LA

-A-
16. Na ntangu mosusu. See you then.

17. Malamu. Fine.

USEFUL PHRASES

Yoka (na) telefon.

I I I
Answer the phone

Kanga
° telefon.
III Hang up the phone.

Zongisa (na) telefon. Hang up the phone.

f f * *
Benga ye na telefon. Call him up.

Baakobenga
O yo na telefon.
IIIrJ ^
You're wanted on the phone.

Be tela ye smga. Call him up.

Telefon The telephone is ringing.

III ezali kobete,
II
Monde le abeti ngonga The European rang the bell.

The European is typing.

II masini.
II azali kobete
Mondele

II maboko. The European is clapping his

II azali kobete
Mondele II
hands

The European is swimming.

II azali kobete
Mondele II mai.
II bondiki. The European is shooting a gun.
11 azali kobete
Mondele

Nkombo na yo nam's What's your name's

Nkombo na ngai Ngoi. My name is Ngoi.

Bapesi ye Monokomolai They nicknamed him Big Mouth.

telephone
III (telephone)
telefon ^

-benga to call, summon; call,

name; order (merchan-
dise)

-bete,* -beta to hit, strike, knock,

I I I

beat

smga cord, rope, wire, cable,

band, belt
100
 . .

BASIC COURSE UEIT 10

mondele, mi- white man, European

masini (machine. machine, mechanical

instrument, tram
bondoki, ma- gun, rifle

nkombo, n- name, honor, reputation

molai, rai- long, large, deep, high

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Natmdi mwana mpo na I sent the boy for the book.

buuku.
f * f f
2. Natmdi buuku na mwana . I sent the book to the boy.

3 . Nakotmdela yo buuku na I'll send the book to you by

mwana the boy.

L|_. Nakotmdela yo buuku lobi I'll send the book to you m

na ntongo . the morning.

5. Natmdelaki yo buuku I sent the book to you yesterday

lobi na ntongo. morning.

6. Natmdelaki yo ma tungulu I sent you the onions yesterday.

lobi .

7. Natmdaki yo osombela ngai I sent you to buy me some

ma tungulu lobi. onions yesterday.

o. Natmdaki yo osombela ngai I sent you to buy a can of meat

Imzanza ya nyama . for me yesterday.

9. Akosombela ye Imzanza He will buy a can of meat for

ya nyama her.

10. Akosombela ye ndako. He will buy the house for her.

101
UNIT 10 LING A LA

GEAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Nabosani ndako na ye. I 've forgotten where his house

is located.

2. Nabosani, ye nam . I've forgotten who he is.

3.
f f f
Nabosanx ntangu
f

mm
*
tokomi
f
'^
I forgot what time it is.
f r r r f f
\\. Nabosani nkombo na ye . I've forgotten his name.
r f r f r
5. Nabosani bana na ye . I forgot about his children.

6. Nabosani ndmga alobaka . I 've forgotten what language

he speaks.

7. Nabosani mosala na ye . I 've forgotten what he does

(for a living)
' ' ' ' ' '
o. Nabosani noko na ye . I've forgotten who his uncle is,

9. Nabosani epai natiki buuku . I've forgotten where I left my

book.

10. Nabosani epaiekei. I 've forgotten where he went.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Nakobima na ngonga ya I'm going out at six o'clock.

motoba

2. Mwasi na ngai akokoma na My wife will arrive at six

ngonga ya motoba. 'clock.

3. Mwasi na ngai akokoma na My wife will arrive m Leopold-

Leo lelo na mpokwa . ville this evening.

Bakotika Leo lelo na ¥e will leave Leopoldville this

mpokwa evening, (impersonal we)

5. Bakotika Brazzaville na We will leave Brazzaville at

ngonga ya moko na ntongo lltOO A.M. (impersonal we)

102
 — , . .

BASIC COURSE imiT 10

6. Bana na ngai bazalaki na My children were at Brazzaville

Brazzaville na ngonga at 1:00 A.M.
ya moko na ntongo.

7. Bana na ngai bazalaki My children were leaving when

/ f f f
kokende ntanao
1 "
1
nakomaki. I arrived.

o. Bakangaki ndako ntango The house was locked up when

f f f
nakomaki. I arrived.

9. Bakangaki ndako mpe motu The house was locked and no

azalaki te. 1-
one was there.

10. Natuni kasi motu azalaki t^ I called out, but no one was
there

PATTERN DRILL 1

1. Soko oyaki lelo, mbele If you had come today, I would

napesaki yo nkama moko. have given you a thousand
francs.

2. Soki osombaki moko, mbele

I

f f f /
I —
f
t-
'
p p
I
p
I
If you had bought one, I would
napesaki yo nkama moko. have given you a thousand
francs

3. Soki osombaki moko, mbele

I I I ' 1 >•
If you had bought one, they
babongisaki mosusu . would have had the other
repaired.

Ij.. Soki obongisaki ndako oyo ,

If you had had this house
mbel^ babongisaki mosusu, repaired, they would have
repaired the other one.

5. Soki obongisaki ndako oyo, If you had had this house

mbele okokaki kotekisa repaired, you could have
yango . sold it at a profit.

6.
II ozilaki sanza moko,
Soko I I
'
If you had waited a month,
mbele okokaki kotekisa you would have been able
yango. to sell it at a profit.
103
UNIT 10 LING A LA

If you had waited a month, you

7.
II ozilaki sanza moko,
Soko t I

mbele okendeki na Kmsasa could have gone to Leopold-

ville

—Soki
I
ozalaki na nkoto moko,
I-' 1— If you had had a thousand
mbele okendeki na Kmsasa, francs, you could have
gone to Leopoldville

•^1
9.Soki ozalaki na nkoto moko,
11' If you had had a thousand
mbele okokaki kosomba
I I
francs, you could have
bilamba . bought some clothes.

10. —Soko
—I okendeki na Kmsasa
1 f
If you had gone to Leopoldville,
mbele okokaki kosomba
I I
you could have bought some
bilamba clothes

PATTERN DRILL 2

1. Mo to moko ayaki koluka Someone came looking for you

yo na midi. at lunchtime.

Mo to moko asololaki na ye
I i
"^
Someone talked to him on the
lobi na telefon. i — I I
phone yesterday.

3. Mo to moko aakobima na
I I
Someone is going out at six
ngonga ya motoba . o 'clock.

\\. Mo to moko atmdelaki yo Someone sent you a rifle.

bondoki .

r r r f A f
5. Mo to moko abosani buuku
I I
Someone has forgotten his
na ye ya Lmgala . Lmgala book.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

1. Luka numero na bango ya Look up their phone number,

telefon.
I i I

2. Luke la ngai numero na Look up their phone number

bango ya telefon. for me

lOi^
 . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 10

3 . Lukelisa ye niJiinero ya Have her look up their phone

banso
^ ya
J telefon.
III number.
* * f * / f

IX. Lukelisa ye numero ya bango Have her look up their phone

ya telefon mpo na ngai . number for me
f f f f 9
S • Lukelisa ye buuku ya Have her look for the phonebook
telefon mpo na ngai. for me

PATTERN DRILL 3

1. Ndenge na ye ya kolia He has good table manners.

p p
ezali malamu.

2. Ndenge na ye ya kolata He always looks nicely dressed.

bilamba ezali malamu.

3 Ndenge na ye ya koloba His manner of speaking is polite

p p
ezali malamu. and easy to understand.
p p p p
L|.. Ndenge na ye ya kosala He always does a good job.
ezali malamu.

5. Ndenge na ye ya kotambola He walks well.

ezali malamu.

PATTERN DRILL i|

1. Nakanisi akoyaa. I think he's coming.

2. Nakanisi akoyaa t^ . I think he's not coming.

3. Nakanisi te akoyaa . I don't think he's coming.

\\. Nakanisi te akoyaa . I think that he's coming.

5- Nakanisi te te akoyaa I don't think that he's comme

105
UNIT 10 LINGALA

10.1 Hypothetical Supposition.

Soko oyaki lelo, mbele napesaki yo nkama moko.

Hypothetical supposition or contrary-to-fact condition is

expressed by the recent past m
both clauses and by the particle
/mbele/ at the beginning of the mam clause, e.g., /Soko oyaki
lelo, mbele napesaki yo nkama moko/, 'If you had come today, I
would have given you a thousand francs.

In the various Lmgala dialects, a number of other particles

are used m the same way as described above for /mbele/, e.g.,
/tiki/, /tike/, /ka/, /kana/, /ente/, /nde/, /mbe/.

10.2 'Passive' Plural

Bakotika Leo lelo na mpokwa.

^
I I

The third person plural besides expressing what is commonly

done (Note 5-9) also is used like impersonal or editoral we m
English, e.g., /Bakotika Leo lelo na mpokwa/, literally and often,
'They will leave Leopoldville this evening', but it is also often
used much like English, 'We, i.e., that group of passengers, or
my plane, etc., will leave Leopoldville this evening.'

10.3 Future m Non- initial and Subordinate Clauses.

Nakanisi akoyaa.

Verbs m non- initial and subordinate clauses, which refer

to a future time, are m the future tense, e.g., /Nakanisi akoyaa/,
'I think he's coming', literally, 'I think he will come'. Speakers
of English often make the error of using a present tense m such
clauses m Lmgala.

106
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 11

Unit 11

Basic Sentences

-A-

-bele to hurt, suffer, be sick

Ookobele wapi? Where do you hurt?

-B-

-lala to sleep, lie down;

stay, remain

monganga, mi- physician, European

doctor

2. Na butu nalali te, monganga. I didn't sleep all night,

doctor.
* f f
inutu, motu, moto, mi- head; bunch

libumu, ma- stomach, belly, womb

mobimbaj mi- entire, whole

3. Mutu, libumu, nzotu My head, stomach, and whole

mobiraba mpasi. body hurts.

-A-

moto
I I
fire, hot

Lj-. Ookoyoka nzotu moto? Do you have a fever?

-B-

wapi by no means, no, nothing

5« Nayeba wapi, monganga. How could I know, doctor?

D. Nazali na thermometre te I don't have a thermomieter at

na ndako. home

107
UNIT 11 LING A LA

-A-

simisi (chemise) shirt

7. Longola namo simisi na yo Take off your shirt first.

8. Tiya thermometre oyo na Put this thermometer m your

monoko. mouth.

-B-

9. Melesi, monganga. O.K. , doctor.

-A-

III' fievele,
fiefele, III' fever
(f levre)

10. Oo ,
>
ozali na fiefele,
III' Paul. Oh,' you have
''
a fever, Paul,
'

-B-

-salisa to help, take care of,

employ, instruct

ko indeed, come on.' go

ahead.'

11. •
Salisa ngai ko monganga, Help me, doctor.

-A-

12. ElokoI I
mm oliaki too What did you eat or drink
omelaki
I
lobi*? yesterday?

-B-

kaka only, alone

til tea

limpa, ma- bread, piece of bread

13. Kaka tii na mampa Only some tea and bread.

108
 . . ,

BASIC COURSE UNIT 11

f f f r r f
1L|.. Fiefele yango ezali makasi? Is my fever very high?
(The fever, ( it is very high?)

-A-

mpenza really, truly, only,

completely, alone

15 • Te , mpenza te No, not really.

kinini (quinine) quinine

. p * p f f *
16. Kamata kinini oyo, me la Take two of these quinine
mibale sika oyo, rriibale pills right away and two
xnosusu liboso ya kolala. before going to bed.

-B-

17. Melesi, monganga. Thanks, doctor,

-A-

-bika to recover, live,

be recued

18. Soki lobi obiki te If you have not recovered by

zonga awa. tomorrow, come back.

USEFUL PHRASES

II mokolo
Lelo III mm? What day is it?
Lelo mokolo ya lommgo. Today is Sunday.

Lelo mokolo ya eyenga Today is Sunday.

Lelo mokolo ya mosala moko.
I I I II I I
"^
Today is Monday.

II mokolo
Lelo 111*^ya mosala mibale. Today is Tuesday.

II mokolo
Lelo III''ya mosala misatu. Today is Wednesday,

Lelo III la mosala mmei.

II mokolo Today is Thursday.

109
UNIT 11 LING A LA

II mokolo
Lelo III"'ya mosala initanu. Today is Friday.

II mokolo
Lelo III''ya mposo.
-^11 Today is Saturday.

Mposo eleki nazalaki na 1 spent last weekend at

Brazzaville Brazzaville

Na nsuka ya mposo oyo nakokende This weekend I am going on a

moberabo na Mpoto. trip to Europe.

Naakolengele
" I
mobembo na
I I
I 'm getting ready for a trip
ntango ya elanga. during the dry season.

Abeli. He's sick. He's gotten sick.

Azali na malali. He ' s sick.

Nazoki na mokongo.
I I
'='
I
I 've injured my back.

Nazoki na Imu. I 've injured a tooth.

Nazoki na mosai. I've injured my finger.

Azali kosono bilamba.

I I
She's making clothes.

Azali kosono mopila. She's making an undershirt.

Azali kosono patalo.

^I I
She's making some trousers.

Azali kosono kaleso.

t I
She's making some shorts.

Azali komeka kazaka. He's trying on a coat.

Azali komeka ekoti. I

He's trying on a hat.

Azali komeka soseti. He's trying on some socks.

Azali komeka sapato. He's trying on shoes.

lommgo Sunday

eyenga festival, feast day;

Sunday, weekend

nsuka , n- end, termination

-bemba to travel

mobembo trip, journey

110
 )

BASIC COURSE UNIT 11

Mpoto, Mputu (Portugal! Europe

-lengele to prepare, get ready-

elansa field, garden; dry season,

year
malali, maladi (maladie illness, sickness

-zoka to be injured, be touched

mosai, mi- finger, toe

- sono
t I
to sew, make clothes

mompila, mi- undershirt, teeshirt,

vest, sweater

patalo (pantalon) shorts, underwear

-meka to measure, weigh, try

(out) , test

kazaka coat, jacket, vest

ekoti, bi- (man's) hat

soseti (chaussette) sock, stocking

sapato, sapata shoe ( s

NOTES

11.1 Emphatic /wapi/

Nayeba wapi?

/wapi/, 'where', plus the subjunctive expresses emphatic

denial of the ability and/or opportunity to do something, e.g.,
/nayeba wapi?/, 'How could I know (if)...?', 'I don't knew whether
or not...', 'I don't know anything at all about...'.

11.2 Spelling of /oo/

/oo/ IS /oh/.

Ill
UNIT 11 LING A LA

Lexical Drill 1

1. Naakoyoka mutu mpasi. I have a headache.

2. Naakoyoka libumu mpasi. I have a stomach ache.

3. Naakoyoka mokongo mpasi I have a backache.

\\. Naakoyoka loboko mpasi. I have a pain m my hand.

5. Naakoyoka Imu mpasi. I have a toothache.

Lexical Drill 2

Naakobele na mutu. I have a headache.

2. Naakobele na libumu. I have a stomach ache.

3. Naakobele na mokongo, I have a backache.

^
]±. Naakobele na loboko.
I ! 1 t 1-
1 have a pain m my hand.

5. Naakobele na Imu. I have a toothache.

Lexical Drill 3

1. Nasalaka na butu. I work at night.

2. Nasalaka na moi. I work during the day.

3. Nasalaka na ntongo . I work m the morning.

)\. Nasalaka na mpokwa . 1 work m the afternoon.

5. Nasalaka na ntangu ya mbula. I work during the rainy season.

6. Nasalaka na ntangu ya elanga .

I work during the dry season.

112
 I I

BASIC COURSE UNIT 11

Lexical Drill l\.

1. Longola simisi. Take off your shirt.

2. Longola sapato « Take off your shoes.

3. Longola pa talo . Take off your trousers,

I4.. Longola ka z a ka . Take off your coat.

5. Longola kazaka ya mbula Take off your raincoat,

Lexical Drill 5

1. Zongisa soseti. Put on your socks.

2. Zongisa kale so . Put on your shorts.

3. Zongisa ekoti . Put on your hat.

\\. Zongisa pull-over . Put on your sweater.

5. Zongisa cravate. Put on your tie.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Pesa ngai nsoso mobimba. Give me a whole chicken.

2. —
Okolamba lelo na midi
1
Today for lunch fix a whole
nsoso mobimba. chicken.

3. Okolamba nsoso mobimba Fix a whole chicken for lunch

—
lelo na midi.
— I
today.

\\.. Okolamba tii mpo na monganga . Fix some tea for the doctor.

5. Kende kosomba tii mpo na Go buy some tea for the doctor,
monganga .

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Ayaki ntango nazalaki kolala. He arrived while I was asleep.

2. Ayaki ntango nazalaki kolia . He came while I was eating.

113
UNIT 111+ LING A LA

3 . Alongolaki bilamba na ye He undressed while I was

ntango nazalaki kolia. eating.

\\.
t r
Alongolaki bilamba na ye
f r f
He undressed when he was m
ntango azalaki liboso with the doctor.
ya monganga .

5. Azalaki na mpasi ntango He was suffering when he was

azalaki liboso ya monganga. m with the doctor.
' ' ' '
6. Azalaki na mpasi ntango He was sick when he went to
akendeki epai ya monganga . the doctor s. '

7. Azalaki na fiefele ntango He had a fever when he went

akendeki epai ya monganga. to the doctor's.

8. III ntango
Azalaki na fiefele ° He had a fever when I saw him.
f ^ p f

namonaki ye .

t f t f r t r
9. Namonaki ye ntango azalaki I saw him while he was taking
kosalisa tata na ye . care of his father.

10. Natmdelaki ye mampa ntango I sent him some bread during

azalaki kosalisa tata na ye the time he was caring for
his father.

Pattern Drill 1

1. Soke simisi na ngai eyaki If my shirt hadn't got dirty,

mbmdu te
I
, kana tokei then the two of us would
Kisangani bisu mibale. go to Stanleyville.

2. Soko simisi na ngai eyaki If my shirt hadn't got dirty,

mbmdu te I
, kana nakei I would go see the doctor.
ko ta la monganga .

3. —
—Soko
I I
nazalaki na malali kana If I were sick, I would go
nakei kotala monganga. see the doctor.

k.
^ Soko nazalaki na malali kana If I had been sick, I would
I I

nakendeki kotala monganga . have gone to see the doctor,

nil
 I . . — — , •

BASIC COURSE UNIT 11

^ ^ f f f *

5. Soko nabikaki te , kana If I hadn't got better, I would

A ^ * *
nakendeki kotala monganga have gone to the doctor.

6.
II nabikaki te
Soko I
,
'
mbe nakei
1
If I hadn't got better, I would
kotala monganga . go to see the doctor.
f * r r f f r
7.
' I
—
—Soko nazalaki na fievele,
*' 1 — I
If I had a fever, I would go
mbe nakei kotala monganga see the doctor.

8.
II nazalaki na fievele,
Soko III' If I had a fever, I'd go to
mbe nalali.
I
bed.
f f * f * f f

9.
^ I
—
Soko
— I —
nabeleki, mbe nalali.
i I '
I
If I were sick, I'd go to bed.
/ ^ ^ ^ ^ f

10. Soko
It 11^
nabeleki, mbe nameli
I 1
If I were sick, I'd drink some
til ya moto . hot tea.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

f f ^ / ^ ^

1. Tmda motu moko abengela

° 1 I
Send someone to get me a doctor,
ngai monganga.

2. Lobela ye akende
^-^
kotala
"^ 1
Tell him to go see the doctor.
monganga
f f f f p * *
3. Lobela ye abengela ngai Tell her to get them on the
bango
a na telefon. 1 —— I •
phone for me

[).. Natunaki ye abengela ngai I asked her to get them on the

bango
° na telefon.
III phone for me.

5. Natunaki ye alongola simisi I asked him to take off his

na ye . shirt.

6. Balmgi alongola simisi They wanted him to take off

na ye his shirt.

7. Balmgi koyeba eloko mm They wanted to know what I

nalei too nameli lelo. 1 1 — t-

had eaten and drunk today.

8. Monganga almgi koyeba eloko The doctor wanted to laiow what

mmnalei too nameli lelo. I I
I had eaten or drunk today.

115
UNIT 11 LINGALA

9. Monganga almgi atiya The doctor wanted me to put the

thermometre oyo na thermometer m my mouth.
— »— —
monoko.
I I-

10. Ntma mm bolmgi atiya Why do you want me to put the

thermometre oyo na thermometer mmy mouth?
monoko?
I I I

116
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 12

Unit 12

Basic Sentences

-A-

-konza to rule, manage

mokonzi, ba- chief, king, boss,

supervisor

wa of, belonging to, at,

from

1. Alobe, oyo azali mokonzi Albert, this is our chief.

wa bisu.

-B-

2. Mbote, Mokonzi. Good morning. Chief.

-C-

3. Mbote. Good morning.

II
-B-

-fwanda, -fanda to sit, be seated;

live, reside

i^. Pwanda soke olmgi. Sit down, please.

-C-

5. Melesi. Thanks.

-B-

nsango, n- news, report

mboka, m- village? region, district;

tribe, race; residence,
address

117
UNIT 12 LING A LA

kolongonu health

6. Mokonzi, nsango bom na Chief, what's new at home'2

mboka?

7. Bango banso bazali nzotu Is everybody well's

kolongonu?

-C-

mpongi, m- sleep

mongungi, monkungi, n- mosquito

mayele understanding, intelli-

gence, intellect, mind,
slyness, craftiness,
manner, means

nde only, however, although

"1 * * *
o. Nsango te , kaka nde na Nothing new, however, we haven't
butu tozwi mpongi te gotten any sleep lately.

9. Ngungi awa mayele te There are more mowquitoes than

you can imagine.

-B-

-keba to pay attention, be

attentive

to bite, sting

10. Keba na bangungi baswaa Be careful that the mosquitoes

bana te, mpo bakoki don't bite the children
* ^ ^ * f
kozwa fiefele makasi. because they would get a

bad fever.

11. Ee , nayebi. Ntma na Yes, I know. That's why I've

yango nayei. come

118
 ' .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 12

nkisi, n- medicine, charm

12. Olmgi napesa yo pompi Do you want me to give you any

na nkisi ya ngungi? sprays with DDT?

talase (terrasse) ditch, canal

mpernbeni side, edge; around,

near

13. Ozali na mai te na talase I

Don't you have water m the
na mpembeni ya ndakCi ditches around the house?

-C-

pitolo (petrole kerosene

- sopa to pour (out), spill;
talk nonsense

111. Ee , mai ezali, kasi tozali Yes there is, but we have enough
pitolo
na pi
^ to mpo na kosopa
I
kerosene to pour on (the
likolo. ditches)

-B-

'voiture automobile

kuna over there ,

yonder

15. Voiture na yo ezali kuna? Is your car out there?

16. Nakoki kotiisa pompi na Can I put the sprays m your

voxtuve'i car?

-C-

17- Ee , melesi. Yes, thanks.

masanga wine, beer

Mokonzi, omelaka masanga Sir, what do you usually drink?

mm?
119
UNIT 12 LING A LA

-C-

mbila, rti- palm nuts, palm tree

19. Namelaka masanga ya mbila, I usually drink palm wine.

-B-
20. AndeleJ Kenda kozwa
t
Andre.' Go get some drinks,
masanga.

USEFUL PHRASES

Nazali na nzala. I 'm hungry.

Nazali na mposa ya mai. I 'm thirsty.

Nalembi. I 'm tired.

Nalembi na kokengele bana I 'm tired of looking after

children.

Naakoyoka mpongi. I 'm sleepy.

Naakoyoka molunge. I 'm hot.

Naakoyoka malili. I 'm cold.

Abeki mosolo
Ill na yo "-^
t
He borrowed the money from you.

Adefi mbongo na yo He borrowed the money from you.

Abekisi yo mbongo. He loaned the money to you.

Adefisi yo mosolo.
III
•^
I
He loaned the money to you.

Ayibi mbongo na yo He stole the money from you.

Kanga moyibii Stop the thief.'

Landa moyibiJ Follow the thief.'

Ozali na falanga ya mbuma ya Do you have change for a

nkoto moko? I I
thousand francs?

Kende kosangisa masanga. Go mix some drinks.

120
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 12

nzala hunger, fain me

mposa urge, desire

-lembe to be (come) tired,

weary; tender, done

-kenge to take glances at,

watch

-kengele to watch, guard

ma 1 ill cold; shade, cool place

-beka, -defa to borrow, buy on credit

-bekisa, -defisa to lend, sell on credit,

pay m advance

mosolo, mi- money; wealth, dowry

mbongo, m- money

-yiba to steal, take away

moyibi, ba- thief

-landa to follow, pursue;

presecute; sue; woo,
court

mbuma , m- fruit; sore, boil;

gram, seed; change
-sanga to assemble, come
together

NOTES

12.1 Nouns Prom Derived Stems.

Nouns as well as verbs are formed from both simple and

derived stems. This is extremely productive, i.e., very many
words are formed m this manner. In the following lessons, the
structure of the varios classes is described; but beginning with

121
this lesson, many such new words are introduced m the exercises
without build-up or explanation. Since the structure of such words
and the roots and affixes have been previously explained, it is up
to the student to recognize and analyze these new words with only
the help of the English translation. The student inust be able to
do this if he is to control Lmgala.

12.2 Agent Nouns

The MO-BA prefix class and the /-i/ suffix mark agent nouns,
e.g., /mokonzi/, 'ruler', 'manager', 'chief' from /-konza/ 'to rule',
'manage '

12.3 /wa/: /ya/

Oyo azali mokonzi wa bisu.

Various alternates of the particle /ya/ occur, e.g., /wa/,

/ma/, /mwa/.

12. 1| Literary use of /nde/ to Mark Future

In literary Lmgala /nde/, 'only', 'although', is sometimes

used as a future marker, e.g., /nde nakei/, 'I will go'. Since
this use of /nde/ is restricted to certain special styles of written
material, the student should continue to AVOID it ENTIRELY even if
he becomes fluent m Lmgala.

12.5 Hyperbole with /. . .mayele te/.

Ngungi awa mayele te.

To express overabundance of something /...mayele te/ is

used, e.g., /Ngungi awa mayele te/, 'There are more mosquitoes than
you could imagine/count, than there is sand m the sea.

12.6 Nouns of Deed or Action, Type 2.

The BO-MA prefix class and the suffix /-i/ form a large
number of nouns of deed or action, e.g., /bolei/, 'meal', /boyei/,
122
 . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 12

'arrival', 'coming'. Since the plural of nearly all these words

IS quite rare, it is given m the vocabulary m parentheses, e.g.,
/bobandi, (ma-)/, 'beginning', 'introduction'.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Nalmgi opesa ngai falanga I need change for a thousand

ya mbuma ya nkoto moko. francs

2. Nalmgi opesa ngai mbongo I need the money I loaned you,

^ ^ A p ^
nadefisaki yo .

3 Nazali na besom ya mbongo I need the money I loaned you.

nadefisaki yo

\\. Nazali na besom ya pitolo I need some kerosene for water.

mpo na mai .

5. Ayei kotuna pitolo mpo He has come to ask for kerosene

na ma 1 for spreading on water.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Nkisi ya ngungi ya bmu ekoki. You have enough DDT.

2. Essence ya bisu ekoki. We have enough gasoline

3. Mosolo ya bango ekoki. They have enough money.

\\. Bilamba ya ye bikoki. She has enough clothes.

5. Masanga ya yo makoki. You have enough beer.

123
UNIT 12 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

Pluralize all nouns possible and concordize verbs,

1. Mokonzi alobeli ngai te The chief told me to go buy a

nakende kosomba nsoso.
t I
chicken.

Bakonzi balobeli bisu te The chiefs told us to go buy

tokende kosomba nsoso.
t I
some chickens.

2. Mosali afwandi epai ya The worker is sitting by the

ndako house

Basali bafwandi epai ya The workers are sitting by

ndako the house ( s )

3. Mosaleli akolambela yo The servant will prepare the

nyama meat for you.
Basaleli bakolambela bmu The servants will prepare the
nyama meat for you.

\\, Mwana oyo ya mobali ayebi This boy doesn't know the name
nkombo ya mosombi te. of the purchaser.

Bana oyo ya mibali bayebi These boys don't know the

nkombo ya basombi te names of the purchasers.
' ' '
5. Moteki aakofwandaka nsiraa The trader is sitting behind
ya biloko na ye. his things.

Bateki baakofwandaka nsiraa

I
The traders are sitting behind
ya biloko na bango. their things.

6. Motali almgi kotikala te The spectator didn't want to

mpo na mbula stay because of the ram.
Batali balmgi kotikala The spectators didn't want to
te mpo na mbula stay because of the ram.

IZh
 . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 12

Moyekoli azalaki na buuku moke. The student had a small book.

Bayekoli bazalaki na buuku mike. The students had small books.

Molobeli atuni motu oyo motuna. The speaker asked the man a
question.

Balobeli batuni batu oyo The speakers asked the men

mi tuna questions

Mosalisi apesaki mwasi nkisi. The assistant gave the woman

the medicine.
f ^ / ^ ^ ' ^
Basalisi bapesaki basi nkisi. The assistants gave the women
the medicine.

10, Tata na ngai azali na mo s a la My father doesn't have a job.

te.
I

Batata na bisu bazali na Our fathers don't have jobs.

misala te

GRAMMATICAL DRILL i|

1. Natmdeli mokonzi mafuta I sent the chief some oil by

na mwana. the boy.

2. Natmdeli basali nyama . I sent the workers some meat.

3. Natmdi basali nyama. I sent the workers for some

meat.

' '
'
\\. Natmdi voiture ekende I sent the car for the chief.
kokamata mokonzi .

5. Atuni ngai voiture mpo He asked me for a car to go

akendeh kokamata mokonzi.
1
get the chief.

6. Atuni ngai voiture mpo He asked me for a car to go

akende na Kmsasa. to Leopoldville

125
UNIT 12 LING A LA

7 . Atuni ngai natmda poinpi He asked me to send the spray

na Kmsasa. guns to Leopoldville

o. Atuni ngai natmda pompi He asked me to send the sprays

na ndako na ye na Kmsasa to his house m Leopoldville.

9. Natikali na ndako na ye na I 'm staying at his house m

Kmsasa Leopoldville

10. Natikali na mosala. I 'm staying at work. I have

stayed at work.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

Pluralize all nouns possible and concordize verbs

1. Mosoni asombi masini ya The tailor bought a sewing

kosono bilamba.
I t
machine

Basoni basombi masini ya The tailors bought sewing

kosono bilamba.
I I
machines

2. Motambwisi ya motuka The chauffeur will take the

akokitisa mobotisi midwife to the hospital.
na lopitalo,

Batambwisi ya raituka The chauffeurs will take the

bakokitisa babotisi midwives to the hospital.
na lopitalo.

3 Molambi ayebi ntangu ya The cook doesn't know the time

bokomi ya mokonzi te of the arrival of the chief.

Ba Iambi bayebi ntangu ya The cooks don't know the hour

bokomi ya bakonzi te of arrival of the chiefs.

\\. Momemi aakotiela ngai The porter is putting the trunk

sanduku na motuka. m the car for me.
Bamemi baakotiela bisu
I
The porters are putting the
ba sanduku na mituka. trunks m the cars for us.

126
 .
. . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 12

5. Moyembi ayebisi mokonzi The singer submitted his resig-

bo tiki ya koyemba. nation to the choral director.
f r f '
Bayembi bayebisi bakonzi The singers submitted their
bo tiki ya koyemba. resigantion( s) to the choral
director

6. Moboti na njiai atuni ntango My parent asked the departure

ya bokei ya noko. time of my uncle.

Baboti na bisu batuni Our parents asked the departure

ntango ya bokei ya banoko. time of our uncles.

7. Moyekoli aakoyekola ndenge The student is studying

ya bobotisi. obstetrics

Bayekoli baakoyekola ndenge The students are studying

ya bobotisi. obstetrics

8. Bomeki ya motuka na ngai I tried out my new car

ya sika ezalaki lobi. yesterday.

Bomeki ya mituka na bisu We tried out our new cars

ya sika ezalaki lobi. yesterday.

9. Na nsima ya bolei, molobeli After the meal, the speaker

azalaki kolobela batu mpo talked to the people about
na bobandi ya kelasi. the beginning of school.

Na nsima ya bolei, balobeli After the meal, the speakers

bazalaki kolobela batu mpo talked to the people about
na bobandi ya kelasi. the beginning of school.

10. Mobongisi ya motuka akangi The mechanic stopped the car

motuka mpo na motu ya because of a pedestrian.
makolo

Babongisi ya mituka bakangi The mechanics stopped the cars

mituka mpo na batu ya because of the pedestrians.
makolo

127
UNIT 12 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Liboso na bolei, nameli Before the meal, I smoked a

likaya moko. cigarette
^ / * *
2. Liboso na bolei, nasukoli Before the meal, I took a bath.
nz o tu

3. Liboso ya bokei , nasukoli Before leaving, I took a bath.

nzotu.

\\. Liboso ya bokei, atii Before leaving, he aired up the

mopepe na motuka . tires

5. Nsima ya bokangi motuka ,

After stopping the car, he
atii mopepe. aired up the tire(s).

6. Nsima ya bokangi motuka, After stopping the car, he

abimi . got out.

7. Nsima ya kotala bipai After looking all around, he

na bipai , abimi. got out.

o. Nsima ya kotala bipai na After looking all around, he

bipai, azongi na motuka got back m
the car.

9. Nsima ya kosolola , azongi After talking a while, he got

na motuka. back m the car.

10. Nsima ya kosolola, akoti After talking a while, he went

na ndako lisusu. back m the house again.

Question and Answer Drill 1

1. Ndmga na yo ya mboka mm? What is your native language?

Ndmga na ngai ya mboka My native language is Lmgala.
ezali Lmgala .

2. Oyei kosala mm? What did you come for?

Nayei kotuna yo bolimbisi I've come to ask your forgiveness

128
 . I . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 12

1
3. Ndenge na ye ya bosali Wha t ki nd o i?
p e r 3 "j i
la 1 ": y does
ezali boni? he have?

Ndenge na ye ya bozali He has a nice personality.

ezali malamu .

[|.. Bolongoli mokonzi na mosala Is the removal of a chief

na ye ezali makasi? difficult?

Ee, bolongoli mokonzi na Yes, the removal of a chief

mosala na ye ezali makasi. IS difficult.

5. Botali liboso ya lininisa Is the view from the window

ezali kitoko? t I
beautiful?

Te, botali liboso ya lininisa No, the view from the window
ezali kitoko te I
isn't beautiful.
I I

6. Bakengeli bazali wapi? Where are the guards?

Bakengeli
° I
batelemi liboso
I 1 — The guards are standing m
ya ndako monene . front of the big building.

7. Nam azali kosangisa masanga? Who is mixing the drinks?

Mwana ya mosala azali The house boy is fixing the

kosangisa masanga. drinks

8. Olmgi napesa yo mm? What do you need?

Nalmgi opesa ngai nkisi I need some DDT.

ya ngungi .

9. Ozwi nsango ya mboka? Have you had any news from

home lately?

Ee , lelo nazwi nsango ya Yes, today I received news

mboka from home

10. Oyo kuna ndako na yo? Is that your house over there?

Ee ,
yango ndako na ngai. Yes, that's my house.

129
UNIT 13 LING A LA

Unit 13

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. Ookosala mm? ¥hat are you doing?

-B-

-koma to write, copy, enroll,

engrave, sign

moninga, ba- friend, companion, peer,

colleague

mokanda, mx- letter, paper, document,

sheet of paper

2. Naakokoinela momnga na I 'm writing my friend a letter.

ngai mokanda.

mosika, (mi-) distance, distant, removed,

far off

-yokana to hear (from) one another,

understand each other,
agree

3. Mikolo mikomi mosika

I I
It's been a long time since
tookoyokana lisusu we 've heard from one another.
nsango te

-A-

\\. Oyo mm? What 's this?

chec check

magazim (magasm) department store

r ^ f r A
5. Oo, nabosam kotmda chec Oh, I forgot, to send a check
na magazim. to the department store.

130
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 13

nyongo, n- debt

6. Batuni ngai soko nakozila They asked me why I 'm waiting

mm mpo nakofuta nyongo before I pay them.
na baneo

-A-

7. Osombaki mm? What did you buy?

esaleli, bi- tool, instrument

taliye, talye (.atelier; shop, workshop, workroom

I. Mwaa bisaleli moko mpo na Just some tools for my workshop.

taliye na ngai.

-A-

esalelo, bi- shop, workshop, workroom,

place to/for work

9. Osalaka mm na esalelo What do you make m your shop?

na yo?

-B-

ekeko, bi- picture, sculpture, statue

mpembe , m- white; chalk; ivory

nzoku, n- elephant

libaya, ma- wood, board

10. Bikeko ya mpembe ya nzoku Sculpture m ivory and wood.

na ya mabaya.

-A-

11. Nakoki kotala yango na Can I visit your shop during

ntangu ya mosala? working hours?

131
UNIT 13 LING A LA

-B-

liloba, ma- word; order (for

merchandise

12. Mpo na mm te? Why nofi

f p ^ p

13. Tozali na biloko mmgi te We don't have many things to

ya koteka, kasi okoki sell, but you can order what
kopesa maloba mpo tosala you want us to make,
eloko olmgi.

-A-

u\. Ntangu bom okoki kozila How long do you have to wait
mpo ozwa yango? for them?

-B-
^ f f f
IS' Kaka mikolo mibale too Only two or three days.
misa tu.

-B-

16. Bofungolaka ntangu mm? What hours are you open?

-A-

17- Na huit heures tii na midi, From eight until noon, and from
rape na trois heures tii three until seven m the after-
na sept heures ya mpokwa. noon.

-B-

18. Malarau. Lobi. Fine. See you tomorrow.

-A-

19. Lobi. See you tomorrow.

132
 . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 13

USEFUL PHRASES

Kiliyo ebukani. The pencil is broken.

Ekomeli ya mai ya mokanda The pen is broken.

ebukani

Lifungola ebukani. The key is broken.

Posita efungwamaka ntangu What hours is the post office

mm? open?
r ' ' '
Tembele na kati ya Kmsasa
lit "^
How much does it cost to send a

ntalo bom? letter within Leopoldville?

Tembele na Kmsasa tii na How much does it cost to send a

Kisaneam ntalo bom? letter from Leopoldville to
Stanleyville?

Palato atiki mikanda. The postman left some mail.

Pa la to ayei na mikanda. The postman brought the mail.

f f f / '

Esika ya kobwaka mikanda ezali There's a mail box/post office on

na nsuka ya balabala. the corner of the street.

Nazwi masmi ya koseba kilio I got a pencil sharpener at the

na esika ya koteka buuku. bookstore

Nasengi bifandeli mpo na I ordered some seats/desks for

kelasi the school.

Liboke etmdami na avio. t

The package was sent by airmail.

kiliyo, kilio (crayon) pencil; legal charges, costs

ekomeli, bi- writing instrument, writing

material

lifungola, ma- key

posita (poste) post office, postal service,

mail box

133
UNIT 13 LING A LA

tembele (timbre)
t I t
postage- stamp

kati m, inside (of), m the

middle of, among, center,
middle, mside

ntalo, ntalu, n- price, number

palato errand boy, messenger, postman

- bwa ka to throw; reject, renounce,

throw-out, disown

balabala street, (broad) road

-seba to sharpen, file, whet; draw

palm wine

to ask for, beg, order

(merchandise

efandeli, bi- seat, chair

liboke, ma- bunch, group, pack, package,

swarm

avio (avion) airplane, airmail

NOTES

13.1 Passive

Liboke etmdami na avio.

The passive extension /-am/ refers to something done by some -

one/something other than the subject of the verb, e.g., /Monoko ys

ndako ekangwami na mwana/. 'The door is/has been opened by the
child. ' The passive also occurs without an expressed agent, i.e.,
without /na/ and the doer of the action, e.g., /Liboke etmdami na
avio/, 'The package was sent by airplane. /na avio/ is not the
'

agent, but the means used by the unexpressed agent.

131;
 '

BASIC COURSE UNIT 13

/-am-/ after primary vowels m

some verbs is /-em-/, e.g.,
/Monoko ya ndako ekangemi/, 'The door has been closed'. /-am-/
after secondary vowels is /-em-/ or /-om-/ as determined by vowel
harmony.

13.2 Ingressive Stativei Reciprocal

Mikolo mikomi mosika tookoyokana lisusu nsango te.

Nabosani kotmda chec na magazini.

The ingressive stative extension /-an-/ refers to something

that gets done, reaches or attains a certain state, becomes a m
certain condition often with the help of the subject of the verb.
The ingressive stative can be very confiasmg to speakers of English
and French because it translates into a number of their grammatical
categoriesi as (l) a passive, (2) a stative, (3) a reciprocal, or
(L|.) a reflexive. But regardless of the translation, the student
must remember that the basic idea is that of becoming or arriving
at the state given m the verb stem, e.g., /Namonani na ye./, 'I

was seen by him', or 'I got seen by' him '

j 'I was seen with him',
or 'I got seen with him..' 'We saw each other', or 'we got seen by
each other'. Consider also /Monoko ya ndako ekangwani./ 'The
door IS open', 'The door got open', 'The door has come open'.

The plural of the ingressive stative is usually reciprocal .

I.e., 'to do for one another', as m the dialogue /Mikolo mikomi

mosika tookoyokana lisusu nsango te/, 'we haven't heard from each
other for a long time. ', or 'we haven't been heard from (let our-
selves he heard from) for a long time.

13 "3 /mikolo mikomi mosika/

/mikolo mikomi mosika/, 'It has been a long time since

that'..., 13 a fixed expression, i.e., no changes or substitutions
can be made m this construction, e.g., /mbula/, 'years', cannot
be substituted for /mikolo/, 'days'.

135
UNIT 13 LINGALA

13. i| Instrument Nouns, Type 1

esaleli

Instrument nouns of most commonplace things have the E-BI

prefixes, the applicative extension, and an /-i/ suffix and mean
the instrument or tool of the base, e.g., /esaleli/, literally
'doer', 'thing to do with', i.e., 'tool', 'instrument', and
/ezaleli/, 'thing to sit m', 'seat', 'chair'.

13.5 Locative Nouns, Type 1

esalelo

Locative nouns have the E-BI prefixes, the applicative

extension, and an /-o/ suffix and mean the place to do or for doing
something, e.g., /esalelo/, literally 'place to work', i.e., 'shop',
'workroom '

13.6 Avoidance of Base Repetition

Mwaa bisaleli moko mpo na taliye na ngai.

Lmgala usually avoids the repetition of the same base m a

sentence. In the sentence above from the dialogue, the French
loanword /taliye/, 'workshop', is used instead of /esalelo/, 'work-
shop', because the base /-sal-/ is used earlier m the sentence m
/bisaleli/, 'tools'.

The same applies to having a verb and its object from the
same base. Any such combination as 'to walk a walk', will be
avoided and words from different bases will be used or the object
will be omitted. However, it is not uncommon for both the subject
and the verb to have the same base.

13.7 Instrument Nouns, Type 2

Some instrument nouns are marked by the LI-MA prefix class

and either an /-a/ or /-a/ suffix, e.g., /lifungola/, 'key', and
/lisala/, 'cultivated field'.
136
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 13

13.8 Instrument Nouns, Type 3

Some abstract instrument nouns have the LI-MA prefixes and

an /-i/ suffix, e.g., /litalisi/, 'demonstration', 'a showing'.

13.9 Expletive

Bakosala litalisi na lisala.

The third person plural is used as an expletive, i.e.,

translates 'there is/are', e.g., /Bakosala litalisi na lisala./,
'
There will be a demonstration'. Compare Note 10.2.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

Pluralize all nouns possible and concordize all verbs.

1. Nazali kokomela moninga I 'm writing a letter to my

na ngai mokanda friend.

Tozali kokomela baninga We are writing letters to

na bisu mikanda. our friends.

2. Asombaki mwaa esaleli moko He bought a tool for his shop,

mpo na taliye na ye.

Basombaki mwaa bisaleli They bought some tools for

moko mpo na bataliye their shops.
na bango.

3. Motu oyo azali kosala The man is making a wooden

ezaleli ya mabaya. chair.

Batu oyo bazali kosala The men are making chairs

bizaleli ya mabaya. out of wood.

[(.. Bakosala litalisi na There will be a demonstration

lisala ya Pierre. m Pierre's field.

Bakosala matalisi na There will be demonstrations

masala ya Pierre. m Pierre's fields.
137
UNIT 13 LING A LA

5.
-^ Mokonzi atmdi monoko
III The chief sent a message by
na mwana. the boy.

Bakonzi batmdi mmoko I I

The chiefs sent messages by
na bana the boys.

, f f * f f
6. Okoki 'kopesa ngai lisalisi? Can you give me some help?
Bokoki kopesa bisu lisalisi? Can you give us some help?

7. Tata atmdeli ngai mokanda My father sent me a letter

na mbongo
° I
na kati.
I
with money it. m
Batata batmdeli bisu Our fathers sent us letters
mikanda na mbongo
" na kati.
I I
with money m them.

o. Atuni na motu oyo epai He asked the man where he

alalaka lives

Batuni na batu oyo epai They asked the men where they
balalaka lived.

9. Naakokornela moninga na I 'm writing a letter to my

ngai mokanda. friend.

Tookokomela banmga na Me are writing letters to our

bisu mikanda. friends

10. Apesi yo esaleli. He gave you the tool.

Bapesi bmu bisaleli. They gave you the tools.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Naakokornela moninga na 1 'm writing my friend a letter.

ngai mokanda.

2. Naakokoma nkombo ya I 'm writing the names of the

bayekoli . students.

3 Magazini nyonso bizali All the stores have the names

na nkombo ya bayekoli, of the students.

138
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 13

L|_. Magazmi nyonso bizali na All the stores have small

bikeko ya mike ya maba^^-^a . wood statues.

5. Awa basalaka bikeko ya Here they make little wooden

mike ya mabaya. statues.

6.- Awa basalaka mikolo nyonso . Here they work every day.

7. Awa batekaka mpembe ya Here they sell ivory every

nzoku mikolo nyonso. day-

0. Awa batekaka mpembe ya nzoku Here they sell ivory only

kaka mokolo ya mposo . on Saturday.

9. Nazalaka na ndako kaka I'm at home only on Saturday,

mokolo ya mposo.

10. Nazalaka na ndako nsima I am home after seven P.M.

ya ngonga ya nsambo ya
mpokwa .

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Nayekwisi bayekoli kokoma. I taught the students how

to write.

2. Alobi na bayekoli bakoma. She told the students to

write

3. Alobi na bana basalisana . She told the children to

help each other.

[)_. Tolmgi bana basalisana. Me want the children to

help each other.

5. Tolmgi kolalisa bana . ¥e want to put the children

to sleep.

6. Bazali kolalisa bana. They are putting the children

to bed.

7. Bazali kobimisa voiture . They are getting the car out.

139
UNIT 13 LING A LA

Azali kobimisa voiture, He IS getting the car out.

Azali kobimisela ngai He IS getting the car out for'

voiture . me.

10, Ma lo bell ye abimisela I asked him to get the car out

ne;ax voiture. for me.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL i|

1. Sika oyo ekomi ntangu It's time to start to work.

ya mosala.

2. Sika awa ekomi ntangu It's time to start to work.

ya mosala.

3. Sika awa tokende ntangu It's time to go

ekoki .

I|.. Sika oyo tokende ntangu It's time to go.

ekoki

5. Mtangu ya kokende ekoki. It's time to go

o. Ntangu ya kolia ekoki. It's time to eat.

7. Ntangu ya kosalisa bana It's time to help the children.

ekoki.

8. Ntangu ya kobanda kelasi It's time to start class.

ekoki It's time to leave for school.

9. Ntangu ya kofungola It's time to open the store.

magazini ekoki.

10. Ntangu ya kokanga magazini It's time to close the store.

ekoki.

1^0
 .. — .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 13

GRAMMATICAL DRILL i?

The door is closed.

III''ya ndako ekangemi,
Monoko
The door has been closed.

The door is open.

III''ya ndako ekangwani,
Monoko ^"'

The door has come open.

The door is opened.

Ill"ya ndako ekangwami.
Monoko '^

The door has been "opened.

The door was open(ed) when

III''ya ndako ezalaki
Monoko ;

ya kokangwama ntangu I arrived.

nakomaki
The door comes open.
III''ya ndako ezali
Monoko
kokangwana . The door won't stay shut.

The door opens/swings/pushes

III''ya ndako ezali
Monoko
kokangwana . open. (though it is closed]

The door is closed (but not

ill''ya ndako ezali ya
Monoko '^
.

kokangwaina te . locked)

Monoko ya ndako ezali ya The door is opened back/stand-

kokangwaina . ing open.
p f p f
The door was opened by the
III''ya ndako efungwamaki
Monoko ^==

na moyekwisi . teacher.

10, Monoko ya ndako efungwamaka The door is always opened by

ntangu nyonso na moyekwisi , the teacher.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

Mikanda mikomamaki na The letters were written by

bayekoli the students.
f p f f
Bikeko bisombamaki na The statues were purchased by
bayekoli. the students.

li^l
UNIT 13 LING A LA

3. Bikeko bisombamaki na The statues were bought by

palato . the postman.

l\.. Mafungola mazwamaki na The keys were taken by the

palato. postman.
' * * '
5. Mafungola mazwamaki na The keys were taken by the
basali . workmen.

6. T^mbele bimonamaki na The stamps were found by the

basali. workmen.
/ f f p t
7. Tembele bimonamaki na The stamps were found by my
moninga na ngai . friend.

8. Liboke etmdami na moninga The package was sent by my

na nga 1 friend.

9. Liboke etmdami na avio. I

The package was sent by airmail.

10. Liboke etmdami na The package was sent from

Bnoxelles mpo na Kongo . Brussels to the Congo.

11+2
 .
. '

BASIC COURSE UNIT li^

Unit li|

I Basic Sentences

-A-

mbala, m- time, times, often,

mostly

1. Mbala boni basalaka election How often do you have elections

na mboka na bmu? m your country?

-B-

2. Election ya president too Election for president or for

ya bourgmestres? mayors?

-A-

3. Nyonso mibale. Both.

-B-

\\, Oyo ya president ezali na The one for president is every

nsima ya mbula mmei four years, the one for
nyonso, oyo ya babourg- mayors every two years,
mestres nsima ya mbula
mibale

-A-

5. Bozali na baParlementaires How many members of Parliament

boni? are there?

-B-

6. Nakanisi ntuku nsambo too I believe seventy or eighty.

mwambe

-A-

'voter to vote

li+3
UNIT lij_ LING A LA

7. Banani bakoki kovoter Who can vote m the election?

na election?

-B-

8. Batu bazali na rnbula ntuku Those who have reached the age
mibale na moko tii na of twenty-one and over.
likolo

-A-

ekolo, bi- tribe, race, region of

origin, people of same
place or language

9. Mpo na kovoter, batalaka With regard to voting, is tribe

ekolo? considered?

-B-

tha t . .

10. Te , wana te , kaka se mbula No, not that, only the age and
na ndenge ya inotu okovoter, competence of the person you
will vote for.

A-

11. Election ya nsima ezalaki When was the last election?

ntango mm?

12. Ezalaki na mbula eleki, It was last year,

-A-

13. Election yango ezalaki Was that election for president

mpo ya president too ya or for mayors?
babourgmestres?

li|4
 . . . . . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT li|

-B-

ll|. Ezalaki mpo ya bourgmestres It was for mayors.

15« Mpo ya president, oyo mbula The one for president was
misatu. three years ago.

USEFUL PHMSES

Aakolakisa bana ndenge ya He's teaching the children

kobete ndembo
I
how to play soccer.

Aakolakisa bana ndenge ya He's showing the children how

kozmga bolangiti. to fold the blankets.

Aakolakisa bana ndenge ya He's showing the children how

kosakana to amuse themselves.

Ekipe ya Lovanium elongi na The team from Lovanium won

lisanu. the game

Ayambi ndembo. He caught the ball.

A til monyama He made a goal.

Atii ntembe na ngai. He discussed it with me.

Ndambo ya batu bamataki na Part of the men got on the

ma suwa boat.

Ndambo ya batu babimaki na Part of the men got off the

ma suwa boat.
f
Ndambo ya batu bakotaki na
f f f
Part of the men got m the
otobisi. bus

Ndambo ya batu bakitaki na Part of the men got out of

otobisi the bus.

-laka to give advice; set a

timej promise ;order

-lakisa to show, display, teach,

instruct
11^5
UNIT Ik- LING A LA

ndembo, n- rubber, ball

-zmga to fold (up), roll (up);

surround, encircle

bolangiti, bolangisi blanket

-sakana, sana to play, amuse oneself, have

a good time

ekipe (equipe) team, squad, crew, gang

-longa to be successful, win, be

proved right

lisano, lisanu, ma- game

-yamba to accept, believe, receive,

entertain, welcome, guide,
steer, catch

monyama^ mi- net

ntembe , n- discussion, argument, doubt,

suspicion, hesitation

ndambo , n- part, piece, share, half

ma suwa boat, ship

otobisi (autobus) bus

ll|..l Miscellaneous Nouns

ekolo ekeko

A number of different kinds of nouns, such as collectives

and human artifacts, are marked by the E-BI prefix class and an
/-o/ or /-u/ suffix, e.g., /ekolo/, 'tribe', 'region or origin',
/-kola/, 'to grow (up) ', /ekeko/, 'picture', 'statue', /-keka/,
'to see', 'look', 'examine'.

ll|6
 —
BASIC COURSE UNIT 11^

li|.2 /se/

I /se/ introduces subordinate clauses and freely substitutes

with /te/. Compare Note 6.5

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Mbala boni basalaka election? How often are elections held?

2. Mbala boni osili okei na How many times have you been m
Kongo ? m the Congo?

3. Mbala bom osili okei na How many times have you been
Kisangani *2 to Stanleyville?

k. Mbula boni osali na How long have you been m

Kisangani? Stanleyville*?

5. Mbula boni osali na Matadi ? How long have you been m

Matadi?

6. Ntango mm ozalaki na How long were you at Matadi?

Matadi?

7. Ntango mm ozalaki na Leo ? How long v/ere you at Leopold-

ville?

Mbula bom okosala na Leo? How long will you be m

Leopoldville?

9. Mbula bom okosala na Soma ? How long will you be m Boma?

10.
—
Mikolo
1 I
bom okosala mpo
±
How long will it be until you
okokoma na Boma? arrive m Boma?

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Batu nyonso mmei baleki All four of the men are over
mbula ntuku mmei. forty years old.

2. Batu nyonso mmei bazalaki All four of the men were here
awa mbula eleki . last year.
1^^
UNIT li|. LING A LA

3. Ndambo ya batu bazalaki Some of the men were here last

awa mbula eleki. year.

I|.. Ndambo ya batu bakozala Some of the men will be here

awa robula ekoyaa . next year.

5. Bikolo nyonso bikozala All of the tribe will be here

awa mbula ekoyaa. next year.

6. Bikolo nyonso bizalaki The whole tribe was present at

na ndako ya raokonzi . the chief's house.

7. Bourgmestre ya Leo deux The mayor of Leopoldville II

azalaki na ndako ya was at the chief's house.
mokonzi.

8. Bourgmestre ya Leo deux The mayor of Leopoldville II

aakokonza malamu . does a good job of managing.

9 Mokonzi ya mboka ya bisu The chief of our village rules

aakokonza malamu. well.

10. Mokonzi ya mboka ya bisu The chief of our village would

almgi ndako ya sika . like to have a new house.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

Pluralize all nouns possible and concordize verbs.

1. Liyebisi etmdami na The announcement was sent to

molakisi. (or by) the teacher.

Mayebisi matmdami na The announcements were sent to

balakisi. (or by) the teachers.

2. M9bongisi bibende abosanaki The mechanic forgot his hammer.

ebeteli na ye.

Babongisi bibende babosanaki The mechanics forgot their

bibeteli na bango. hammers

11+8
 . . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 111

3. Ekangeli ya monoko ebukani. The door handle got broken.

p * *
Bikangeli ya mmoko bibukani, The door handles got broken.

1|. Lifuta na ngai ekoki te na My salary isn't sufficient for

libota mobimba. my entire family.
Mafuta na bisu mokoki te na Our salaries aren't sufficient
mabota mobimba. for our entire families.

There isn't enough cooking oil

for our entire families.

5. Na makanisi na ye,almgi It's his intention to give

kopesa ndmgisa ya kobma permission for the dance.

Na makanisi na bango, balmgi It's their intention to give

kopesa ndmgisa ya kobma. permission for the dance.

0. Mokomi ya mokanda oyo The writer of this document

ayebani te IS unknown.

Bakomi ya mikanda oyo The writers of these documents

bayebani te are unknown.

7. Atiyani ntembe na ngai. He discussed it with me.

Batiyani ntembe na bisu. They discussed it with us.

o. Azali kozila mbotama ya She is awaiting the birth of

mwana na ye ya liboso her first child.

Bazali kozila mbotama ya They are waiting for the birth

^ * p
bana na bango ya liboso. of their first children.

9. Moyekoli akanisi te kelasi The students thought school

ekangemi. was closed.

Bayekoli bakanisi te bakelasi The students though the schools

bikangemi were closed.

li|9
UNIT II4. LING A LA

10. Mosaleli aakopalola mbala. The servant is going to peel

the potato.

Basaleli baakopalola mbala. The servants are going to peel

the potatoes.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1|

1. Nam azali mokonzi ya Who IS the chief of your j

mboka ya bmu? village?

2. Banani bazali na mokonzi Who IS with the chief of your

ya mboka ya bmu? village?

3 . Banani bakoki kovoter na Who can vote m the elections?

election?

Ij.. Banani bakoki kosalisa Who can help the employees?

batu ya mosala ?

$. Banani bakoki kosala na leta? Who can work for the government?

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

1. Ebongaki nazila mbula misatu I had to wait three years

liboso ya kokende na Mputu. before going to Europe.

2. Ebongi nazila mbula misatu I have to wait three years

liboso ya kokende na Mputu. before going to Europe.

3. Ebongi nazila tii mokolo ya I'll have to wait until Monday

mosala moko mpo na kosomba to buy those clothes.
bilamba wana .

Ll.
^ Ebongi
° nazila tii mokolo
I III I'll have to wait until
ya mosala mmei mpo na Thursday to buy those
kosomba bilamba wana. clothes.

150
 . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT Ik

5. Soki oyaki te, mbe nazilaki If you hadn't come, I would

til mokolo
111''ya mosala mmei have had wait until Thursday
mpo na kosomba bilamba wana. to buy the clothes.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Banda akendeki namu akomeli Since he left, he hasn't,

bisu mokanda te written us a letter.

2. Banda mbula eleki namu He hasn't written us a letter

akomeli bisu mokanda te I
since last year.

3. Uta mbula eleki namu akomeli He hasn't written us a letter

bisu mokanda te. since last year.

if. Uta mbula eleki namu nabeti I haven't played soccer again
lisusu ndembo te . since last year.
ft / / /

5. T il na mbula ekoyaa nakobeta I won't play soccer again

lisusu ndembo te. I
until next year.
. / / ^ t
6. Til na mbula ekoyaa election There won't be another election
mosusu ekozala te . until next year.

7. Til nsima ya mbula misatu , There won't be another election

election mosusu ekozala te. I
for three years.

8. Til nsima ya mbula misatu You will live here for three
/ p * *
bokolala na esika oyo . years

9. Til na ebandeli ya mbula You will live here until the

ekoyaa , bokolala na beginning of next year.
esika oyo.

10. Til na nsuka ya mbula ekoyaa , You will live here 'until the
/ ^ / /
bokolala na esika oyo. end of next year.

151
UNIT 11+ LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 7

1. Bana baakosakana na kati The children will play mside

ya ndako mpo na mbula because of the ram.

2. Bana baakosakana na libanda The children will play outside

r r f f

mpo likolo ezali malamu . because the weather is nice.

3 . Bana batmdami na inolakisi The children were sent out to

basakana na libanda mpo play by the teacher because
na likolo ezali malamu. the weather is nice.

\\. Bana batmdami na molakisi The children were sent to see

the exposition by the teacher.
—
bamono litalisi.
1

5. Bana batmdami bamono The children were sent with the

bi talis 1 na molakisi. teacher to see the exposition.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 8

Madesu malambami na boi. These beans were prepared by

the houseboy.

2. Tookoyokama na boi. ¥e will be (over) heard by the

houseboy.

3. Tookoyokana na boi. We are on friendly terms with

the houseboy.

\\. Tookoyokana na batu mmgi . We have a lot of friends.

5- President ayebami na batu The President is known by many

mmgi. people

ll|..3 Ambiguity of Agent and Indirect Object

Liyebisi etmdami na molakisi.

The above sentence would usually be understood to mean,

'The notice was sent by the teacher', however, it could mean, 'The
notice was sent to the teacher'. To specify only 'to', /mpo na/

152
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 11+

IS used, e.g., /liyebisa etindami mpo na molakisi/, 'The notice

was sent _to the teacher. '

ll+.I; Lovanium University

Lovanium, the national university of the Congo, is beauti-

fully laid out on a plateau about eight miles from downtown Leo-
poldville
I
llj..5 Leopoldville II

Leopoldville is divided into 'communes' each with a 'bour^

mestre'. Though the communes are part of a larger municipal or-
ganization, they do have a great deal of autonomy.

153
UNIT 15 LING A LA

Unit 15

Basic Sentences

-A-

mokolo, ba- grown person, adult

1. Okosala mm, soko okomi What are you going to do when

mokolo? you are grown?

-B-

'minis tre '

minister (cabinet post)

2. Na makanisi na ngai, nalmgaka In my opinion, I'd like to be

nakoma mimstre. a cabinet minister.

-A-

soda, ba- soldier

3. Kasi liboso okosala But first, aren't you going to

mosala ya soda? do military service?

J_|.. Te tata, mosala wana No, Sir, I don't want that job.
nalmgi yango te

-pusa to surpass, exceed, be

very, be too much

-nyokolo to mistreat, torture,

''ill
annoy, oppress
' ' '
5. Epusi monyokoli mmgi. That's much too wearisome.

-A-

o. Zila, nayebisa yo ndenge Just a minute, I'd like to tell

ya mpasi tomonaka. you how we used to suffer.

151;
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 15

7. Ozalaka soda? You used to be a soldier?

-A-

o. Aa , mwana na ngai, koloba Oh, my child, don't mention

te, mosala ya soda ekomi that, military service has
mosala ya mbongo. become a well-paying occu-
pation.

9. Ezalaka bisu, makambo In our time, everything was

nyonso mpasi. difficult.

10. Obandaka soda na mbula At what age did you start

boni? military service?

-A-

11. Nayeba wapi. Ntangu wana I have no idea. In that time

makambo ya kokomisa nkombo the names (births) of children
ya bana na buuku ezalaka te . were not recorded.

12. Boongo bozalaka kosala Well then, how did it use to

ndenge mm? be done?

-A-

-umela to remain, stay on,

stay away

13. Tika nasilisa elamba ya Go away and let me finish this

p f f /
batu eumeli mmgi. garment.

llf.. Tikala malamu, nakei na Goodby, I'm going home.

ngai.

155
UNIT 15 LING A LA

-A-
15. Kende malamu, oyaka Goodby, come to see me again
kotala ngai ntangu some time.
mosusu.

USEFUL PHRASES

Azali kobolose sokoto. He's brushing the uniform.

Azali kotiya silasi na sapato, He's polishing his shoes.

Azali kongengisa lifungu. He's shining the buttons.

Azali kotonga buto. He's sewing on a button.

Matiti ya bolosi masili. The brush is worn out.

A buna ka na e turn ba He fought m the war.

Babomaka ye na etumba. He was killed m the war.

Azali mobange. He ' s an old man.

Asali mokuse. He '

s short.

Azali mabe, He ' s ugly.

Ezali motuya malamu. It's cheap.

Ezali ntalu makasi. It's expensive.

-bolose (brosser) to brush

bolosi (brosse) brush

sokoto uniform, military jacket/
clothing
silasi (cirage) polish, shoepolish

-ngenge to shine, blaze

-tonga to bind, tie, join, twist,

braid, plait, weave, sew,
expand, enlarge

buto (bouton) button

156
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 15

lititi, ma- blade of grass, sheet of paper,

hair, fur, down, bristle

-buna, -bunda to fight, wage war, wrestle,

struggle

etumba, bi- war, fight, battle, conflict

-boma to kill, murder, hunt, catch,

damage badly, destroy, ex-
tmquish, erase, wipe (off),
do away with

mobange, ba- old person

mokuse, rni- short, small

motuya, mi- price, value, number

NOTES

15.1 Intermediate Past

f p f * p f f f f
Nayebisa yo ndenge ya mpasi tomonaka.

The intermediate past is marked by the /-ak-/ extension and

a high- tone imperfective suffix /-a/, e.g., /tomonaka/, 'we saw',
'we used to see'. In general, the intermediate past refers to
something that happened more than a month ago but not more than
about thirty years ago. However, as with the other tenses, the
time referent is not exact and refers to something that took place
between recently and a long time ago . It very often translates
'
used to '
m English and into the imperfect m French.

15.2 Distant Past

The distant past is marked by a high tone imperfective

suffix /-a/ and refers to something that took place (usually)
more than a generation ago, i.e., a long time ago , e.g., /akufa/,
'he died (a long time ago) '.
UNIT 15 - LING A LA

15.3 Comparison of Intensity

f ^
Epusi monyokoli mmgi.

Intensity or excess degree of something is expressed by

/-pusa/, 'to surpass', 'be very', 'be too much', e.g., /Epusi
monyokoli mingi/, 'It's much too wearisome', literally, 'It exceeds
weariness much'. See also Note 9.1.

i5.il- Comparison of Degree

Aleki mwasi na monene.

Comparison of degree is expressed by /-leka/, 'to pass by',

'exceed', /Aleki mwasi na monene/, 'He's bigger than his wife',
literally 'He exceeds his wife m bigness'.

The 'superlative' is shown by /-leka/ plus /nyonso/, 'all',

'every', /Aleki mibali nyonso na molai/, 'He's the tallest of the
men', literally, 'He exceeds all the men m length'.

15.5 Inversion of Subject and Verb

Ezalaka bisu, makambo nyonso mpasi.

One way of forming temporal subordinate clauses is to re-

verse the order of the subject and verb. In this type of construc-
tion, the verb prefix is /e-/. In the sentence from the dialogue,
/ezalaka bisu/ means 'when we were', 'during the time we were',
'm our time '

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Bambula eleki mmgi mokolo This man was a soldier many

oyo azalaka soda. years ago.

2. Bambula eleki mmgi nazalaka Many years ago I lived m

na ndako oyo . that house.

3. Ntangu nazalaka mwana When I was a child, I lived

nazalaka na ndako oyo. m that house.
158
 . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 15

l\.. Ntangu nazalaka mwana, When I was a child, there '

banyama mmgi bazalaka awa . were many animals here.

5. Ntangu tokendaka na mboka , When we moved from the village,

banyama mmgi bazalaka awa. there were many animals here.

6. Ntangu tokendaka na mboka, When we left the village, my

tata atikalaka na nosala father was a soldier.
ya soda .

7. Ntangu mama akufaka tata , When mother died, father was

atikalaka na mosala ya soda, still a soldier.

8. Ntangu mama akufaka, nazalaka When mother died, I was still

namo mwana mok^ . a small child.

9 Tata asombaka ndako na bisu Father bought our house when

ntangu nazalaka namo mwana I was still a small child.
mok^.

10. Tata asombaka ndako na bisu Father bought this house when
ntangu ayaka na Leo . he came to Leopoldville

Pattern Drill 1

1. Aleki mwasi na monene I I

He IS bigger than his wife.

2. Aleki mwasi na molai . He is taller than his wife.

3. Aleki mwasi na bambula He IS (a little) older than

his wife.

\\. Aleki mwasi na mokuse. He IS shorter than his wife.

5. Aleki mwasi na mobange , He IS (much) older than his

wife

Pattern Drill 2

1. Motuka oyo eleki wana This car is prettier than

kitoko. that one.

159
UNIT 15 LING A LA

2. Motuka oyo eleki wana na This car is better-built than

makasi . that one.

3. Motuka oyo eleki wana na This car is more expensive

ntalo . than that one.

I)-. Motuka oyo eleki wana na This car runs faster than
kotambola . that one.

5. Motuka oyo eleki wana na This car is longer than that

molai . one.

Pattern Drill 3

1. Motuka oyo epusi kitoko. This car is very beautiful.

2. Motuka oyo epusi makasi . This car is very well-built.

3. Motuka oyo epusi ntalo . This car is too expensive.

I4.. Motuka oyo epusi kotambola . This car is very fast.

3. Motuka oyo epusi molai. This car is too long.

GRA,miaTICAL DRILL 2

1. Ntangu nazalaka na Kmsasa, ¥hen I lived m Leopoldville

nazalaka kofanda epai na ye I stayed at his house.

2. Ntangu nazalaka moyekoli .

When I was a student, I used
nazalaka kofanda epai na ye. to live at his house.

3. Ntangu nazalaka moyekoli, When I was a student, I used

nazalaka kobima mmgi . to go out a lot.
f p f f f
L|_. Liboso tata akuf , nazalaka Before my father died, I
kobima mmgi. used to go out a lot.

5. Liboso tata akufa, apesaka Before my father died, he

ngai motuka . gave me a car.
160
 . . — .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 15

6. Ntangu nasilisaka kelasi ,

After I finished school, he
apesaka ngai motuka gave me a car.

7. Ntangu nasilisaka kelasi, After I finished school, I

na luka ka mo sa la . looked for a job.

8. Ntangu nazongaka na Amerique ,

After returned from America,
I

nalukaka mosala. I looked for a job.

9. Ntangu nazongaka na Amerique, After I returned from America,

nazalaka kokomela baninga I used to write to my friends
ntangu mosusu . occasionally.

10. Ntangu nazalaka na ntangu , When I I used to

had time,
nazalaka kokomela baninga write to my friends occa-
ntangu mosusu. sionally.

Pattern Drill h.

1. Mwana na ngai aleki oyo ya My son is older than yours.

yo na mbula

2. Mwana na ngai aleki oyo ya My daughter is smarter than

yo na mayele . yours.

3. Mwana na ngai aleki oyo ya My daughter is prettier than

yo na kitoko . yours

[|.. Mwana na ngai aleki oyo ya My son is taller than yours.

yo na molai .

5. Mwana na ngai aleki oyo ya My son is stronger than yours,

yo na makasi .

GRAIMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Nazalaka kokende kolia epai I went to eat at their house

na bango ntangu mama when mother went to the
akotaka lopitalo. hospital.
2. Nazalaka nainu mwana ntangu
—" I was still a child when the war
» > r

etumba ekweyaka na mboka

t
. took place our country. m
161
UNIT 15 LING A LA

3 . Azalaka kaka na mbula zomi He was only ten years old when
p
ntangu etumba ekweyaka
^ *
the war took place m our
na mboka country.

\\. Azalaka kaka na mbula zorni He was only ten years old when
ntangu tata na ye akufaka . his father died.

5. Amekaka kozwa mosala ntangu He tried to get a job when his

^ f f r f
tata na ye akufaka. father died.

6. Amekaka kozwa mosala nsima He tried to get a job after

* ^ f p

ya mbotama na mwana . the birth of his son.

7. Ayaka na Kmsasa nsima ya He came to Leopoldville after

mbotama na mwana. the birth of his son.

o. Ayaka na Kmsasa ntangu He came to Leopoldville while

azalaka kosala na masuwa . he was working on a riverboat.

9. Nayebaka ye ntangu azalaka I knew him while he was working

kosala na masuwa. on a riverboat.
f p f f p *
10. Nayebaka ye liboso alongwa I knew him before he left
na Kmsangani. Stanleyville

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1+

1. Basoda bazmgi mboka. The soldiers surrounded the

village
p p p p
2 Ba s o da baakotiya silasi The soldiers are polishing
p
ya sapato . their shoes.

3. Momemi akendeki koluka

1 1 1
The porter has gone to get
silasi ya sapato. some shoepolish.

a.
^ Momemi akendeki koluka
I t I
The porter has gone to get some
p
buto ya soke to . buttons for his uniform.
p p p p p p
5- Soda oyo angangisaki buto This soldier shmed his uniform
ya sokoto. buttons

162
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 15

6. Soda oyo aleki wana na This soldier is taller than

molai . that one.

7. Motuka oyo eleki wana na This car is longer than that

molai. . one.

8. Motuka oyo epusi ntalo . This car is too expensive.

9. Bolosi wana epusi ntalo. That brush is too expensive.

10. Bolosi wana ekomi ya kala. That brush is old.

163
UNIT 16 LINGALA

Unit 16

Basic Sentence

-A-

1. Liboke ya batu wana ezali What is that group of men

kosala nini'J doing*?

-pasola to tear, split, cleave,

saw, tear up, break up,
cut through

nzela, nzila road, way, path, means,

permission

2. Bazali kopasola nzela. They are building a road through,

-A-

3. Nzela yango ekende tii How far is the road supposed

wapi? to go?

\\. Nakanisi eekokoma tii na I believe it's going as far

Matadi. as Matadi.

-A-

5. Bakosala mikolo boni na How long will it take to build

mayele na yo m your estimation?

-B-

nguya, n- strength, power, ability,

quality

161+
 . . ..

BASIC COURSE UNIT 16

Soko bazali na nguya , bakoki If they keep at it, they can

A f f f f f
kosala sanza misatu too do it in three or four
months

-A-

Awa til na Matadi bakilo- How many kilometers is it

raetres boni'2 from here to Matadi?

Na avio too na motuka? By plane or by car?

-A-

9. Na motuka. By car,

10. Nakanisi nkama mmei I believe it's four hundred

kilometres kilometers

-A-

11. Booneo na avio? And by plane?

-B-

12. Nkama misatu na ntuku Three hundred sixty- five

motoba na mitanu. kilometers

-A-

13 • Nzela ya ndenge mm What kind of road are they

ba kosala? building?

-B-

simeti (ciment) cement

ll|.. Liboso, bakotiya mabanga First, they will pour stone (s)

basangisi na simeti. mixed with cement.

165
UNIT 16 LING A LA

- tuta to strike, beat, mash,

crush, bump (against)

-simba to hold, seize

libende, ma- rod, post, pole, tamper,

tamping stick

15. Bakotuta na libende mpo They will beat it out (smooth)

te esimba makasi. with a tamper to make it hold
(together) tightly.

-A-

16. Boongo na nsima? And then?

-B-

-sopa to pour, spill overturn,

spread, unload

mokobo, mi- color, paint

-ymda to become dark, black,

dirty

mwmdu, mmdu, black, dark, Negro; bad

momdo character/intention;
with dislike/aversion

17- Bakosopa mokobo ya inwindu They'll spread some black

likolo mpo te sirneti na colored material on top
mabanga bisimba makasi. so the cement and rocks
will bond together well.

-A-

lo. Mokobo yango nkombo mm? What's the name of the black-
colored material?

-B-

falanse French
'goudron tar

166
 .

BASIC GOimSE UNIT 16

19. Nkombo na yango na It's called 'goudron' m

falanse goudron. French.

-A-

putulu cinders, ashes, dust,

powder

20. Simeti nmi bakotiya, ya What kind of cement are they

putulu too ya inai-rnai'2 to use, liquid or dry?

21. Oyo ya mai-mai. Liquid.

USEFUL PHRASES

Dzeke eekotoka mabele. The steamshovel is digging up

the ground.

Dzeke eekotimola libulu. The steamshovel is digging a

hole

Dzeke eekotondisa mabele na The steamshovel is filling

kamio. the trunck with earth.

Mibali baakotimola libela ya The men are digging a well

f f f
mai na piosi na mpau. with picks and shovels.
Mibali baakotimola libela ya The men are digging a toilet
kabme na piosi na mpau. with picks and shovels.
Mibali baakolaanda tiyo ya mai. The men are burying a water
pipe.

Ml ball baakokunda tiyo ya gaz. The men are burying a gas pipe

Mibali baakopika nzete ya The men are setting up a

telefon. telephone pole.

Bilei bizali elengi. The food tastes good.

Bilei bizali sukali. The food tastes sweet.

167
UNIT 16 LING A LA

5ilei bizali ngai. The food tastes sour.

3ilei bizali bololo. The food tastes bitter.

3ilei bizali ya kopolo. The food is rotten.

5ilei bizali na mongwa The food is salted.

5ilei bizali na mongwa mmgi. The food is too salty.

dzeke steamshovel; earth mover,

dump truck

- toka to draw water, dig out/up

mabele earth, ground, floor

- timola to dig (up), turn over

the soil

libulu, ma- well, pit, hole, trench,

toilet

- tonda to be(come) full, filled,

fill

libela, ma- well, pit, hole, trench,

toilet

kaiTiio (camion) truck

mpau, mpao, m- shovel, spade

piosi, (pioche) pick, pickaxe

kabme (cabinet) toilet; excrement

-kunda to bury, plant

tiyo (tuyau) pipe, tube, hose, gas

'gaz '
gas

nzete, n- tree, stick, pice of wood

elengi pleasing to the senses,

good taste/smell; beauty
 )

BASIC COURSE IINIT 16

sukali sugar, candy; sweet

ngai sour (ness

bololo bitter (ness )

, sour(ness)

-polo to belcome) wet, soggy,

rotten; be beaten, defeated

mongwa , mi- salt

NOTES

16.1 Subject with two verbs.

Batu balalaka awa bakendeki lobi.

I I

Many subjects which have two verbs m Lmgala translate

into English and French as subject plus two verbs; but very often
such a Lmgala construction translates as subject plus adjectival
relative clause plus verb, e.g., /Batu balalaka awa bakendeki lobi/,
'The people who live here left yesterday', literally, 'The people
they live here they left yesterday'. Note that it is the first
verb m this type of sentence that translates as a relative clause.

16.2 Immediate Past of /-longwa/

Alongwea epai azalaki kofwanda liboso.

The immediate past of /-longwa/ has /-e/ before the tense

marker, e.g., /alongwei/, 'he has gone away See Note 2.9. Rule
IV.

16.3 Indefinite Condition

Soki osombaka moko, mbele babongisaka mosusu.

*.
Indefinite or improbable condition is expressed by the
intermediate pa st m both clauses and a particle such as /mbele/
at the beginning of the result clause, e.g., /Soki osombaka moko

169
UNIT 16 LING A LA

mbele babongxsaka mosusu/, 'If you were to buy one (but you prob-
ably won't), then they would have the other one repaired'.

Some dialects of Lmgala also express indefinite condition

with the immediate past m
the if-clause and an indefinite particle
and the future m
the result clause. Thoush the student may read
or perhaps hear this, he should not use it because it does not usu-
ally occur m speech and is likely to be misunderstood.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

Nzela oyo eekoleka na Boma This road goes to (through)

Boma.
Nzela oyo eekokoma tii na This road goes to (as far as]
Boma . Boma.

Avio eekokoma tii na Boma. The airplane is going as far

as Boma

k.
^ Avio ekomi.
I
The airplane has (just)
arrived.

5. Bayekoli ya sika bakomi. The new students have (just)

arrived.

6. Bayekoli ya sika bazali The new students are all

bans9 bamdu .
^
Africans/Negroes.

7. Batu balalaka awa bazali The people who live here are
bans9 bamdu. all Negroes/Africans.

Batu balalaka awa bakendeki 1 1

The people who live here left
lobi. yesterday.

9 . Basali bapasolaki nzila The workers who built the road

bakendeki lobi.
I I
left yesterday.
f A ^ * f

10. Basali bapasolaki nzila The workers who built the road
bakozonga lobi . will return tomorrow.

170
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 1(

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

Mpo na mmliboke ya bana ¥hy IS that group of children

oyo eekozila lisusu? still waiting*?

Liboke ya bana oyo eekozila The group of children is

molakisi. waiting for the teacher.

3 . Bana bakelasi bakosukola The students will clean up

ndako ya molakisi. the teacher's house.

Ij-. Bana bakelasi bakosukola The students will wash off

bizaleli. the chairs.

5. Baboi baakotiya mokobo na The houseboys are painting

bizaleli the chairs.

6. Baboi baakosopa mabanga The boys are spreading rock

na nzela . on the walkway.

7. Bango banso baakosopa They are all spreading stone

mabanga na nzela. on the roadway.

8. Bango
° banso baakokende na
I 1 1
They are all going to Coquil-
Coq na avio. 1-
hatville by plane.

9 Mwana na ngai aakokende My son is going to Coquilhat-

na Coq na avio. ville by plane.

LO. Mwana na ngai azali na My son is very strong.

nguya mmgi .

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Alongwei epai azalaki He (has) moved. He (has.

kofwanda liboso. changed his address.

171
UNIT 16 LING A LA

2. Alongwei na Lovanium He has moved from Lovanium

akomi na Kmsasa. into the old section of
Leopoldville

3. Alongwei na mosala . He quit his job.

I4.. Alongwei na eteyelo . He has quit school.

5. Alongwei na mosala ya soda He has resigned from the army.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL h.

1. Atiki komela likaya He quit smoking.

2. Atiki motuka na ye . He parked his car.

3. Aboyi motuka na ye. He abandoned his car.

\\. Aboyi mwa s 1 . He has left his wife for good.

5. A tiki mwa SI. He has left his wife at home.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL $

1. Dzeke eekotiya mabele na The stearashovel is loading dirt

kamio. into the truck.

2. Basali baakosopa mabele The workmen are unloading dirt

na kamio. from the truck.

3. Basali baakobimisa biloko —

1 t-
The workmen are unloading the
na mas mi. railroad car.

\\. Basali baakosopa mabanga The worl<men are spreading rock

na balabala. on the road.

172
 — ..

BASIC COURSE UNIT 16

5- Kamio eekosopa mabanga The truck is dumping rock on

na balabala. the road.

6. Kamio ezali komema nzete 1

The truck is carrying telephone

^ya ——
telefon.
1 I I
poles

7. Basali baakopika mabende The workmen are setting up

ya telefon.
''
III telephone poles.

8. Mibali batelemisi mabende I I ,

The men set up the telephone
ya telefon.
"^
111 poles

9. Mibali batelemisi madesu I I 1

The men set up sticks for the
na nzete.
/
1 — I-

f f f * f f
beans

10. Mibali batondisaki libulu The men filled the hole with
na mabele. dirt. '

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Akei nsima ya ndako. He went to the toilet.

2. Akei na Boma na motuka . He went to Boma by car.

3. Akei na Boma na motuka He went to Boma by car by the

na nzila ya sika . nevj route.

\\. Akei na Boma na nzila ya He went to Boma by tram.

mas mi .

5. Akei na Brazza na masuwa He went to Brazzaville on the

ya nsuka . last boat.

Pattern Drill 1

1. Otobisi ekende tii wapi?

^ i I
How far is the bus supposed
to go?

2. Otobisi ekoma tii wapi? How far is the bus supposed

to go?
173
UNIT 16 LING A LA

Otobisi ekoma tii na The bus is supposed to go far

Lovanium. as Lovanium.

Otobisi euti na Lovanium The bus came from Lovanium.

5. Otobisi eutaka na Lovanium. The bus comes from Lovanium,

Pattern Drill 2

1. Soke
II''oyaka lelo, mbele
II I I
'
If you were to come today, I'd
napesaka yo nkama moko. give you a thousand francs.

2. Soki
— I
osombaka moko,
f f p
»-'
mbele
p
1— f f *
I
p
I
If you were to buy one, I'd give
napesaka
^ yo nkama moko.
II "^
I
you a thousand francs.

3. Soki osombaka moko, mbele

I I I ' —
1 I-
If you were to buy one, they
babongisaka mosusu . would have the other one
repaired.

If. Soki obongisaka ndako oyo ,

If you were to have this house

II babongisaka
mbele ° mosusu. I
repaired, they would have the
other one repaired.
* * A f f f f
5. Soki obongisaka ndako oyo, If you were to repair this house,

—
mbele okokaka kotekisa
1 • 1
you would be able to sell at
yango . a profit.

6.
—
—Soke
I
ozilaka sanza moko,
^' I — If you were to via it a month, you
mbele okokaka kotekisa
I I I
would be able to sell it at
yango. a profit.

II ozilaka sanza moko,

Soko II If you waited a month, you would
mbele okendeke na Leo. be able to go to Leopoldville

8.
—Soki
I
ozalaka na nkoto moko,
I-' 1 — If you had a thousand francs,
mbele
II okendeke na Leo. III you could go to Leopoldville.

9. Soki ozalaka na nkoto moko,

I I I
'
If you had a thousand francs,
mbele okokaka kosomba
i I
you could buy some clothes.
bilamba .

10.
—Soko
I— I
okende na Kmsasa,'
1 •
If you went to Leopoldville,
mbele okokaka kosomba you could buy some clothes.
bilamba
171;
 . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 17

Unit 17

isic Sentences

-A-

sofele, ba- driver, chauffeur

( chauffeur)

Ee.'
III' kanga
Sofele, ° motuka Hey.' Driver, stop your car
I

na yo kuna over there.

2. Eloko
I t
mm nasali ko Well, officer, what did I do?
gendarme? Nabomi motCi Did I kill somebody?

mwmda light, lamp

motane bright red/yellow/orange

-pela to be on fire, burn, be lit

3. Ozali komona I
mwmda te?
I
Didn't you see the red light?

\\. Oyo ya motane epeli mpo What (do you think) red lights
na mm? are for?

5. Oyebi koteleme mpo nakozila Don't you know to wait?

moke te?

6. Pardon, namonaki mwmda I'm sorry. I didn't see the

malamu te light very well.

-A-

7. Omoni malamu te?

I I
You didn't see it very well?

'permis de condiure driver's license

o. Lakisa ngai permis de Show me your driver's license.

conduire na yo
175
UNIT 16 LING A LA

9. Ezali te, mpo nabandi I don't have any because I've

koyekola kotambwisa only just started to learn
motuka kaka sika. to drive.

-A-

inpaku, mpako, m- tax, corvee labor

10. Boongo buuku na yo ya mpaku? And your identification book?

11. Ozali mpe na yango te? Don't you have it either?

-B-

ma Here.' Take it.'

-futa to pay; atone, make

up for

12. Ma, yango oyo. Kasi namu Here, take it. But I haven't
nafuti mpaku ya mbula paid my tax this year yet.
oyo te.

-A-

13. Landa ngai na Commune ya Follow me to the Kalamu Commune

Ka lamu

-B-

komiseleI I
( coininissaire, commissioner, policeman

111. Te , Komisele, motuka ezali No, Officer, the car doesn't

ya ngai te belong to me.
lomande (n-) (amende) fine, penalty

15- Lomande ya boni olmgi How much of a fine do you want

na f u ta 1 me to pay?

-A-

posi (pochei pocket, pouch, sack

16. Ozali na nkoto moko
L m( sika Do you have a thousand francs
oyo na posi na yo? myour pocket right now?
176
 . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT l6

avasi (avance) advance, part payment,

deposit

17. Te, napesa avasi, boongo No, let me give a deposit and
nakende koluka ndarnbo then let me go home to get
mosusu na mboka the rest.

-A-

boloko, ma- jsilj prison

makeleleI I I
quarrel, argument, sound
of voices, noise

lo. Mwana, soko olmgi boloko Boy, if you don't want to go to

te, tika makelele mpe J^ilj shut up and follow me.
landa ngai. EsiliJ And that's final.'

19. Nayoki yo , Komisele. I understand you. Officer.

USEFUL PHRASES

Obungi mibeko ya nzila. You've broken the traffic laws.

Obungi mateya. You don't know your lesson.

p * p p
Obungi nzila ya mboka. You've lost your way home.
p t r p f
Obungi nzila ya kozonga na Leo. You've lost the road to Leopold-
ville

Polisi abotoli palaki ya motuka The police confiscated his auto

na ye plates.

Polisi abotoli motuka na ye The police confiscated his car

mpo azwi likama na motuka. because he had an accident.
p p p p
Mopaya akangi motuka mpembeni The stranger parked his car on
na balabala. '

the side of the street.

177
UNIT 17 LING A LA

Mopaya akangi motuka na nsuka The stranger parked his car at

na balabala. the corner of the street.

Mopaya akotisi motuka na kati The stranger parked his car m

ya lopango. the yard/driveway.

Komisele apesi ye kovokasio mpo The police officer gave him a

atambwisi motuka mbangu makasi, ticket because he was speeding,

Komisele apesi ye kovokasio mpo The police officer gave him a

akangi SI motuka esika ya mabe. ticket because he was parked
illegally.

Komisele apesi ye kovokasio mpo The police officer gave him a

atuti motu ya nkmga ticket because he ran into
a man on a bicycle.

- bunga to forget; make a mistake,

be wrong; lose, get
lost, lose one's way;
die

mobeko, mi- law, regulation, obliga-

tion, duty

liteya, ma- lesson

polisi (police) policeman, police

-botolo
t I I
to take/snatch away,
confiscate, impound,
pillage

palaki (plaque) plate, plaque, auto

license plate

likama, ma- accident, danger;

punishment

mopaya, ba- stranger, guest, visitor,

host

178
 .
.

BASIC COURSE UNIT 17

mpembeni, m- side, edge; beside, along,

next to, around, near

lopango, m- enclosure; fence; plot

of land, place of
residence

kovokasio (convocation) notice, summons, traffic

ticket

nkmga , n- bicycle

GRAMLATIGAL DRILL 1

1. Atelemisi motuka mpembeni He parked the car beside the

na ndako. house

2. Akangisi motuka mpembeni He stopped the car beside the

na ndako. house

3. Akangisi motuka liboso ya He stopped the car at the red

mwmda motane . light.

\\. Mituka mmso mikangami All the cars are stopped at

f p / /
liboso ya mwmda motane. the red light.

5. Mituka mmso mikangami mpo All the cars are stopped

mwmda motane epeli . because the light is red.
, / * / < ^ /
6. Motuka monene etelemi mpo The big truck stopped because
mwmda motane epeli. the light is red.

7. Motuka monene et^lemi The big truck stopped behind

nsima ya magazmi . the store.

8. Nzela ezali nsima ya There is a street behind the

magazmi. store.

9. Nzela ezali na batu mmgi . There are many people on the

street.

179
UNIT 17 LING A LA

10. Mboka na bisu ezali na There are many people m our

batu mmgi. village.

GRA.MMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Baninga na ngai baakotambola My friends are m a hurry.

mbangu.
f f f ^ f f *
2. Baninga na ngai bafuteli My friends paid the fine for
ngai lomande . me
^ ^ ^ A f
3. Mokonzi afuteli ngai The chief paid the fine for
lomande. me.

ii.
"r Mokonzi amoni mwmda
,
The chief didn't see the red
motane te . light.

5. Basali bamoni mwmda The workers didn't see the

motane te red light.

6. Basali bakei koluka mbongo The workers have gone to get

ya sanza . their (monthly) pay.

7. Mokakisi akei koluka mbongo The teacher has gone to get

ya sanza. his salary.'

8. Molakisi aakopelisa mabaya . The teacher is burning the wood,

9. Bana aakopelisa mabaya. The boys are burning wood.

10. Bana baakoyekola kotambwisa The boys are learning to drive,

motuka

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Bolangiti ekufi. The blanket is worn out.

2. Bolangiti epasuki . The blanket is torn up /worn out,

3. Sapato epasuki. The shoes are torn up /worn out.

L\.. Sapato ekomi ya kala . The shoes are old.

180
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 17

5 Patalo ekomi ya kala. The pants are old.

6 Patalo ezali tnotuya malamu . The pants are inexpensive.

7 Kazaka ezali motuya malamu. The jacket is cheap.

8 Kazaka euti na Bruxelles . The coat is from Brussels.

9 Liboke euti na Brioxelles. The package came from Brussels.

f f f f * ^ f
10 Liboke etmdamaki na avio. The package was sent by air.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

1. Kilio mm ozali na yango. What pencil do you have?

2. Kilio ya nam ozali na yango? Whose pencil do you have?

3. Kilio ya ndenge mm ozali What kind of pencil do you

na yango? * have?

\\. Motuka ya ndenge mm ozali What kind of car do you have?

na yango?

5. Motuka mm ozali na yango? What make of car do you have?

Pattern Drill 1

1. Nabandi koyekola kotambwisa I 've only just started to learn

motuka kaka sika oyo to drive.

2. Nabandi kosukola ndako kaka I 've only just started to clean

sika oyo. up the house.

3. Nabandi kopakola mokobo na I've only just started to paint

the table.

Ij.. Nabandi kobongisa masini ya I've only just started repairing

mikanda kaka sika oyo. the typewriter.

5.
-^ Nabandi kokitisa biloko
1— na I
I've only just started unloading
kamio kaka sika oyo. the truck.

181
UNIT 17 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

1. Komisele aboyi kozwa The policeman refused to

mbongo accept the money.
f f f f f A

2.
I I —
Komisele abotoli ye buuku
1 I i^
The policeman took away his
ya mpaku . ID card.

3 . Bourgmestre ya Commune ya The mayor of Kalamu Commune

Kalamu abotoli ye buuku confiscated his ID card.
ya mpaku.

\\. Bourgmestre ya Commune ya The mayor of Kalamu Commune

Kalamu aboyi
^
raakelele. ——
1 I »-
doesn't like noise.

3. Mobange oyo aboyi makelele. The old man doesn't like noise,

6. Mobange oyo afwandi awa tii The old man has been sitting
na ntongo . here since this morning.

7. Mopaya wana afwandi awa tii That stranger has been sitting
na ntongo here since this morning.

o. Mopaya wana a bung i nzela That stranger can't remember

ya mboka na ye . the way back to his village.

9. Motu ya mabaya abungi nzela The carpenter can't remember

ya mboka na ye. the way back to his village.
f f A f f
10, Motu ya mabaya abotoli The carpenter took the hammer
ebeteli na mwana. away from the child.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Atutani na nzete. He walked into a tree.

2. Motuka etuti nzete. The car crashed into a tree.

3. Motuka etuti motu ya nkmga . The car hit a man on a bicycle

L\.. Polisi akangi motu ya nkmga. The police arrested a man on

a bicycle.

182
 . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 17

5. Polisi akangi sofele aleki The police arrested the driver

mwinda motane . who ran the red light.

6. Tozali koluka sofele aleki I

We are looking for the driver
mvrinda motane. who ran the red light.

7. Tozali koluka mobali akangi VJe are looking for the man who
lopango . fenced the plot of ground.

8. Mopaya ayebi mobali akangi The visitor knows the man who
lopango IS getting engaged.

9. Mopaya ayebi kopelisa The stranger knows how to light

mwinda the lamp
p p f * p
10. Natuni mwasi apelisela I asked the woman to light the
ngai mwinda. lamp for me

183
UNIT 18 LINGALA

Unit 18

.SIC Sentences

-A-

- tonga to build, construct

1. Nayoki te otongisi ndako I've heard that you've had a

ya sika. new house built.

-B-

soolo
I I I
true, real, right; truth

2. Ee
I I
,
'
ezali ya soolo.
III "^
Ye s , tha t ' s true

-A-

briki (brique) brick

- tumba to burn, set fire, to

roast over/m a fire

3. Ezali ya briki ya kotumba Is it made out of fired bricks

too ya simeti? or cement?

-B-

!(-. Ezali ya briki ya It's made of fired bricks.

kotumbama

-A-

eteni, bi- piece, part, share; room

5. Bozali na biteni boni How many rooms do you have?

ndako?

-B-

D. Biteni mitanu. Five rooms,

iQk
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 18

-A-

-pono to choose, select, elect

langi paint, color

7. Nam aponi langi ya ndako? Who chose the paint for your
house?

Mama mo to aponaki yango. It was mother who chose it.

f ' o '
liso, lisu, miso, eye, (in pi.) with eyes
misu open, with good vision/
taste, unafraid

Oyebi te te basi bazali na Don't you know that women have

misu malamu? excellent taste?

-A-

lokola, (n- kind, sort; also, too;

as, like, such as,
similar, same sort

10, Olongi, ezali ya socio. You're right, it's true.

11, Na kati mpe ezali lokola Is the interior also the same
na libanda? color as the outside?

-B-

12, Ntma mm? For what reason/why should it be?

13^ Na ndako ya kolia, ezali In the dining room, it's green.

mai ya mpondu.

sokola (chocolat) brown, dark red

III. Na ndako ya kosolola, sokola. In the living room, brown.

15. Na bandako mosusu, mwmdu, In the other rooms, gray,

too mpembe, too mai ya white, or orange.
ma la la

185
UNIT 18 LING A LA

-A-

16. Bozali boni na libota? How many are there m your

family?

17. Nam mwana ya liboso, Who IS the oldest child, a girl

mwasi too mobali? or a boy?

-B-

17. Tozali motoba, mwana There are six of us (children)

mwasi moto azali liboso. The oldest is a. girl.

-A-

Bmu nyonso bokendeke

•^
I I III Do you all go to school or do
kelasi, too bana inisusu some of the children stay
f f f
batikala mpo na kopesa home to give your mother a

mama maboko'j hand?

-B-

19. Misatu ya mike namu The three smallest haven't

bakomisi bango na started to school yet.
kelasi te.

-B-

-kuta to meet, find, come upon

20, Malamu, nakei namu kolia, Good, I'm going to eat now,
tokokutana nsima. we'll see each other later.

21. Kende raalamu. Goodby.

USEFUL PHRASES

Eteni ya kobomba bilamba ezali The closet is (painted) yellow,

motaneso.

Eteni ya kobomba biloko ezali The storage room is tan.

motaneso
186
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 18

Eteni ya kobomba bilei ezali The pantry is blue.

bule

Komba ndako.
I
Sweep the floor.

Sukola ndako. Mop the floor.

Pupola putulu likolo ya mesa Dust off the furniture.

na kiti.

Kulutu na ngai aakotanga My older brother is reading

zulunalo the paper.

Leki na ngai aakotanga zulunalo, My younger brother is reading

the paper.

Bokilo na ngai aakotanga My father-in-law is reading

zulunalo the paper.

Koko na ngai aakotanga zulunalo My grandfather is reading the

paper.

Mbanda na ngai aakotanga My co-wife is reading the paper.

zulunalo

Bisu na ye tokomi mbanda. We no longer like each other,

(lit.) We have become m-laws.

Akei ndobo. He has gone fishing.

I t

Akei bokila. He has gone hunting.

Aakokalmga makei na kuku. She's frying eggs m the kitchen.

Aakotokisa makei na kuku. She's boiling eggs m the kitchen.

Aakotumba nyama. She's roasting meat over the fire.

-bomba to hide, keep, store, pre-

serve, shelter; observe,
obey (law, custom)

motaneso light yellow/tan/beige

bule (bleu) blue

-kombo, -komba to sweep, clean house, empty

187
UNIT Iti LING A LA

-pupa to blow, fan, winnow, make

clean by blowing/shaking

kulutu, ba- older brother/sister

- tanga to read, count, enumerate,

add up

zulunalo (journal] newspaper, magazine

leki, ba- younger brother/sister

bokilo, bakilo parent- m- law, brother/sister-

m-law, good friend, acquaint-
ance

koko, ba- grandparents, grandchild

mbanda, ba- co-wife; brother-in-law married

to wife's sister, sister-m-
law married to husband's
brother; people who don't
like each other

ndobo , n- fishing, fishhook

bokila, ma- hunt mg) (

-kalmga, kalanga to fry, bake, roast

likei, ma- egg

kuku kitchen

-toko to boil, be boiling

NOTES

18.1 /-zala ya/

Ezali ya soolo.
III•J

f f f * *
Ezali ya briki ya kotumba too ya simeti'2

/-zala ya/ means 'to consist of', 'be made out of', as m
188
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 18

the sentence abovet 'It is true', literally 'It consists of the

truth'; 'Is it made out of fired bricks or cemenfi

18.2 Equational Sentence with Emphatic Subject

Mama moto aponaki yango.

Equational sentences (See Note 6.I) whose second element

begin with /moto/ or /bato/ are used to give special emphasis to
the subject. In this type of sentence, /moto/ often translates,
'the one who', the person who', as
! m
the sentence above, 'Mother
(is) the one who chose it. '/aponaki yango/ is an adjective relative
clause (See Note 5-10) m this sentence.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Libota ezali na eteni The family is m the dining

ya kolia. room.

2. Libota ezali na eteni ya The family is m the kitchen.

kolamba biloko.
K 1

3 . Bakulutu na yo ya mibali Your older brothers are m

bazali na eteni ya the kitchen.
kolamba biloko. I t

Ll_. Bakulutu na yo ya mibali Your brothers are m their

bazali na biteni ya bedroom.
kolala

5. ileki na ngai bazali na My younger brothers and

biteni ya kolala. sisters are m
their
bedrooms

ileki na ngai bazali My younger brothers are

kotumba briki. firing bricks.

7. .tu bazali kotumba briki, The men are firing bricks.

UNIT 18 LING A LA

8. Batu batongaki ndako na The men built the house of

briki ya kotumba . fired brick.
f f t f * f

9. Ndako etongamaka na briki The house was built out of

ya ko tumba fired brick.

10. Ndako etongamaka na mabanga The house was built out of

najnabaya stone and wood.

GRAM^IATICAL DRILL 2

1. Mwana amonanaka liboso

I
The boy was seen m front of
ya ndako. the house.

2.
* p
Motuka em.onanaka liboso
f f f f
The car was seen m front of
ya ndako. the house.

3. Motuka ebongisamaka na The truck was repaired by

mecanicien . the mechanic.
r f A r f

\\. Avio ebongisam.aka na The plane was repaired by

mecanicien. the mechanic.
f p f r r f
5. Avio eyokamaka na bana. The airplane was heard by
the children.

6. Basaleli bayokamaka na The servants were heard by

bana the children.

7. Basaleli batunamaka na The servants were questioned

mokonzi . by the chief.
' ' r ' '
o. Basali batunamaka na The workers were questioned
mokonzi by the chief.

9. Basali bazali kotunama The workers are being questioned

na gendarme . by the policeman.

10. Mwa s azali kotunama na The woman is being questioned

gendarme by the police.

190
 . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 18

GRAm^TICAL DRILL 3

1. Olongi, ndako na bango You're right, their house is

ezali ya briki motane. built out of red bricks.

2. Olongi na likambo olobi . You're correct m what you

said.
3 . Nasala mm na likambo What should I do about the
olobi? thing you just mentioned?

ll.. Nasala mnl mpoo nayeba How should I go about learning

koloba Lmgala ? Lmgala?
5. Lakisa ngai mayele mpoo Show me a good system for
nayeba koloba Lmgala. learning Lmgala.

6. Lakisa ngai mayele ya Show me how to cook manioc

kolamba mpondu . leaves

7. Toko tuna nsima ya kolamba We'll discuss it after fixing

mpondu. the manioc leaves.

8. Toko tuna nsima ya ndobo . We'll discuss it after fishmg,

9 . Llakangaki mbisi mmgi na I caught a lot of fish with a

ndobo
I I
hook and line

10. Nakangaki mbisi mmgi na I caught a lot of fish m

ebale. the river.

GRAMI'-IATICAL DRILL k

1. 11^
Bokende kopesa mama maboko
It Go give mother a hand.

2. Bokende kopesa tata nkmga Go give your father the bicycle

akende mosala. so he can go to work.

3. Bongisela tata nkmga Fix the bicycle for your father

akende mosala. so he can go to work.
. f f f A f
li. Bongisela ye lokolo ya sapatu . Repair the shoes for him,

191
UNIT 18 LING A LA

5. Babungiseli ye lokolo ya His shoes were lost.

sapatu.

6. Babungiseli mwana ndembo . Somebody lost the child's ball,

7. Tata ya Polo aakokende Paul's father is going to buy

kosombela inwana ndembo. the child a ball.

8. Tata ya Polo aakokende Paul's father is going to the

kosombela ngai makei market to buy me some eggs.
ya nsoso na zandu .

9. Mbanda aakokende kosombela

I I
My co-wife has gone to the
r f f p *
ngai makei ya nsoso na market to buy me some eggs,
zandu.

10. Mbanda atumbi nyama na My co-wife roasted the meat

kuku. m the kitchen.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

1. Nakotisi motuka na ndako I put the car m the garage/

na yango. carport.

2.
p f f p
Nakotisi motuka na kati
I
f
I parked the car m the yard/
ya lopango . driveway.

3 . Bana baakosakana na ka 1 The children are playing m

ya lopango. the yard.

\\. Bana baakosakana na libanda The boys are going to play at

ya Stade Baudoum . Stade Baudoum.

5. Lisano eekosalama na The game is going to be played

libanda ya Stade at Stade Baudoum.
Baudoum.

192
 — . .. .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 18

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Nazalaka na ndako ya nsuka I live m the last house.

2. Nazalaka na ndako ya liboso . I live m the first house.

3. Nazalaka na ndako wana ya I live m the first white

mpembe ya liboso . house

L. Nazalaka na ndako wa na na I live m the house on the

— ——
loboko
I I I
ya mwasi.
<'
left.

5. Nazalaka na ndako wana na I live m the house on the

loboko ya mobali. riRht

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 7

1. Eteyelo ezali ya briki The school is made of fired

ya kotumba. bricks
f f f p f *
2. Eteyelo etongamaki ntangu The school was built during
ya elanga . the dry season.

3. Ndako ya kolala etongamaki The bedroom was built during

ntangu ya elanga. the dry season.

\\. Ndako ya kolala ezali mai The bedroom is green.

ya mpondu .

5. Efandeli ya kelasi ezali The desks are green.

mai ya mpondu.

•6. Efandeli ya kelasi ezali The desks are brown.

sokola .

7. Eteni ya kobomba bilei The pantry is painted brown.

ezali sokola.

193
UNIT 18 LINGALA

8. Eteni ya kobomba bilei The pantry has been swept.

ekombamaki
1

9. Ndako nyonso ya kolala All the bedrooms had been

bikombamaki. swept.

10. Ndako nyonso ya kolala All the bedrooms were mopped

f f ^ /
bisukwamaki na bakulutu by my older sisters.
na ngai ya basi .

19^
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 19

Unit 19

Basic Sentences

-A-

1 Monika .'
Monique J

-B-

2. Mama.' Yes, Mother.

-A-

3. Wapi yo? Where are you?

-B-

\\. Nazali komisukola nzotu. I 'm taking a bath.

-A-

noki fast, quick, prompt

r r > > > t f
5. Sala noki osombela ngai Hurry up and go get me some
biloko na zandu. things at the market.

-B-

-zoka to be injured, to be
touched

mosai, monsai, finger, toe

mosapi, mi-

6. Tmda Maria, namizokisaki Send Mane, I hurt my fingers

lobi na mmsai. yesterday.

195
UNIT 19 LING A LA

-A-

7. Omizokisaki na mm? What did you hurt yourself with?

-B-

8. Na mbelx ya mesa, With a table knife.

-A-

9. Wapi epai? Where were you?

-B-

'ville '
city, town 5 downtown

10. Lobi na ndako ya moninga Yesterday at one of my friend's

na nsai
° moko na ville.
1 t
house m
town.

-A-

11.
P P
Boongo, ookozila mm mpo Well, why are you waiting to
okende na munganga? !;o to the doctor's?

12. II
Nakokende nsima soko
11 I'll go later when I've finished
na sill SI komisukola. taking my bath.

-A-

kitunga, litunga, ma- a basket with a lid

13- Maria, kamata kitunga Mane, take the market basket

osombela ngai
° biloko I I
and go buy me some things
na zandu. at the market.

-B-

liputa, ma- pagne, long wrap-around

skirt

litambala, kitambala, handkerchief, towel, cloth,

ma- napkin

196
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 1^

ll).. Mama, nakomisombela mpe I '11 also buy myself the pagne
liputa na litambala and headscarf that I saw.
namonaki

USEFUL PHRASES

Motu ya kabmda aakokata The carpenter is drawing a

monkoloto
lit na kiliyo. '' I
line with a pencil.

Motu ya kabmda, azengi ndambo The cabinetmaker cut off a

ya libaya. piece of the wood.
Motu ya kabmda akoboli libaya The carpenter cut the piece of
na biteni. wood m half.

Mope akangi gbagba foto. The priest took a picture of

the bridge.

Mope akangi bwatu foto. The priest took a picture of

the dugout canoe.

Mope akangi mokili foto na The priest took a picture of

ma suwa the mainland from the boat.

Mope azali koluka bwatu. The priest is rowing the boat.

Mope azali koluka nkai. The priest is rowing.

Mama mokengeli aakopusa mwana The governess is pushing the

moke na pusupusu. baby m the stroller.

Mama mokengeli
° I
aakomelisa I
The babysitter is feeding the
mwana moke miliki. baby milk.

Mama mobokoli aakolatisa

I I I
The governess is dressing the
mwana moke bilamba. baby.

Mama mobokoli aakolakisa

I t I
The babysitter is teaching the
mwana kokata mai. child to swim.

Abongoli Angele na Lmgala. He translated it from English

into Lmgala.

197
UNIT 19 LING A LA

Abongoli kawa na sukali. He stirred sugar into his coffee.

Abongoli kiti. He turned the chair around.

Akwei na kiti. He turned over m the chair.

He fell out of the chair.

Akweisi kiti na mabele. He turned the chair over.

kabmda, ba- carpenter, cabmet-reaker

-ka ta to cut, chop

monkoloto, mi- line

-zenga to cut off, chop off

mope, mompe, ba- (mon pere, priest (Catholic)

gbagba bridge

foto (photo) photograph, picture

bwatu, matu dugout canoe, native boat

mokili, mi- mainland, land, interior,

inland, world

-luka to row/paddle a boat

nka 1 , n- paddle, oar

-pusa (pousser?) to push, shove

pusupusu (pousse-pousse) pushcart, baby carriage,

stroller

miliki milk
-bokolo
I I I
to bring up, raise, rear,
feed, breed (animal)

Angele (anglais, English

kawa coffee

-kweya to fall;' be involved m/lose

a lawsuit

198
 . .. . . . ,

BASIC COURSE UNIT 19

NOTES

19.1 Reflexive

Nazali komisukola nzotu.

The reflexive prefix /-mi/ means 'to do something to/for

oneself'. /-mi/ is prefixed to the base and occurs with all per-
sons, e.g., /Nazali komisukola nzotu/, 'I'm taking a bath', liter-
ally, 'I'm washing myself the body'.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Namisukolaka nzotu na I take a bath every morning.

ntongo nyonso.

2. Namisukolaka nzotu na I take a bath every evening.

mpokwa nyonso .

3 Amisombelaka nyama na He buys some meat for himself

mpokwa nyonso. every evening.

L|_. Amisombelaka nyama epai He buys meat for himself at

ya batekmyama . the butcher's (mea tsellers ' )

5. Amizokisi epai ya bateki- He injured himself at the

nyama butcher ' s

6. Amizokisi na mbeli ya He injured himself with a

mesa table knife.
f p f f f

7. Amisaleli ekeko na mbeli He made himself a statue with

ya mesa. the knife.

8. Amisaleli ndako ya mabaya , He built himself a frame house

9. Tokomisombela ndako ya ¥e are going to buy ourselves

mabaya a frame house.

10. Tokomisombela bilamba ya We are going to buy ourselves

sika some new clothes.

199
UNIT 19 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Ndako ya bisu ezali Our house is near the road.

mpembeni na nzela.

2. Tomoni bana bakelasi

1
We saw some school children
mpembeni na nzela. near the road.

3. Tomoni bana bakelasi na We saw some school children

motei na bango . with their teacher.
I|.. Bayekoli bakendeki na ville The students have gone into
na motei na bango. town with their teacher.

5. Bayekoli bakendeki na ville The students have gone into

komisombela sapatu. town to buy themselves some
shoes

6. Kulutu na ngai azali kozila My brother is waiting to buy

mpo amisombela sapatu. some shoes.

7. Kulutu na ngai azali kozila My brother is waiting for me

ngai na nzela . out on the street.
' ' ' ' '
o. Atiki ngai na nzela. He let me out at the road.

9. A tiki bilamba na ndako. He left the clothes at the

house

10. Atmdeli ngai bilamba na She sent me the clothes at

ndako. the house.

Pattern Drill 1

1. Nazali komituna soke mbula t I

I wonder if it's raining.
ezali konoko. t I

2. Nazali komituna soko akoyaa , I wonder if she's coming.

3. Nazali komituna mpo na mm I wonder why he came yesterday.

ayaki lobi .

200
 . I . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 19

l\.. Nazali komituna epai azali . I wonder where he is.

5.
^ Nazali koinituna — I— azali
soko •
I wonder who he is.
nam .

6. Nazali komituna epai natiki 1 wonder where I put my keys.

mafungola .

7. Nazali komituna ndenge mm I wonder how he got here.

akomi awa .

8. Nazali komituna ntangu mm I wonder when he'll get back.

akozonga .

9. Nazali komituna soko ayebi I wonder if he knows where we

epai tozali. are

10. soko azwi

Nazali komituna — —
I
I wonder if he received the
mokanda letter.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Mope amisombeli masini The priest bought himself a

ya foto. camera

2. Mope abongoli mokanda ya The priest translated the

Angele na Falanse . letter from English to French.

3. Moyekwisi abongoli mokanda The instructor translated the

ya Angele na Falanse. letter from English into
French.

\\. Moyekwisi akwei na kiti . The instructor turned over m

his chair.

5. Mofuteli akwei na kiti. The tenant turned over m his

chair

6. Mofuteli ape SI ngai mbongo The tenant paid me the rent.

ya ndako .

201
UNIT 1 LING A LA

7. Kabmda apesi ngai mbongo The carpenter paid me the rent,

ya ndako.
' ' ' ' ' '
o. Kabmda abongolaki ebombeli The carpenter turned the book-
ya buuku . case around.
^ f f ^ f /
9. Boi apupoli kati ya ebombeli The houseboy dusted the mside
ya buuku. of the bookcase.

10. Boi apupoli likolo ya The houseboy dusted the outside

ebombeli ya basani . of the china cabinet.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

1. Abongoli kawa na sukali. He stirred sugar into his coffee,

2. Monika abongoli kawa na Monique stirred sugar into her

sukali coffee.

3 . Monika almgi litambala na Monique wants a pagne and

liputa . kerchief.

\\. Leki na ye aakosomba mpe Her younger sister is also

litambala na liputa. going to buy a pagne and
kerchief.

5. Leki na ye aakosomba mpe Her younger sister is also going

mbeli ya kuku .
to buy a butcher knife.

6. Namikati monsai na mbeli I

I cut my finger with a butcher
ya kuku. knife

7.
'
monoko
Namikati monsai na — I —— I I-
I cut my finger on the door.
ya ndako .

8. Tokotiya mokobo ya mai ya We will paint the door again.

mpondu na monoko ya ndako.

9. Tokotiya mokobo ya mai ya We are going to dye the new

mpondu na bilamba ya sika . dress green.
10. Tokotiya mokobo ya mai ya We are going to dye the new
ma la la na bilaraba ya sika. dresses orange.
202
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 19

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

1. Mama mokengeli aakopusa The babysitter is pushing the

p /

mwana moke na pusupusu.

f f
baby m the buggy.

2. Koko mwasi aakopusa mwana The grandmother is pushing the

moke na pusupusu. baby m the buggy.

3. Koko mwasi aakolatisa mwana The grandmother is dressing

moke bilamba.
1
the baby.

L|.. Tata mwasi aakolatisa mwana The (baby's) aunt is dressing

moke bilamba.
I
the baby.

5. Tata mwasi aakoleisa mwana The (baby's) aunt is feeding

moke I
the baby.

6. Kulutu mwasi aakoleisa The (baby's) older sister is

mwana moke. I
feeding the baby.

7. Kulutu mwasi akangi mwana The (baby's) older sister took

moke foto.
1
a picture of the baby.

8. Mope akangi mwana moke The priest took the baby's

foto. picture

9. Mope azalaki kotanga The priest was reading today's

zulunalo ya lelo . paper.

10. Kabmda atongi ndako ya The carpenter who built our

bisu azalaki kotanga house was reading today's
zulunalo ya lelo. paper.

19.2 Compound Agent Nouns

Amisombelaka epai ya batekmyama.

/batekmyama/ is a compound agent noun, meaning 'meatsellers

The agentive element is first and the qualifying noun second, e.g.
/batekmyama/ is literally '
sellersmeat ' , and /molukmyama/, 'hunt-
er' IS literally ' searcheranimal ' . Both nouns m this type of com-
pound have their class prefixes, singular and plural, as the case
203
UNIT 19 LINGALA

may be. Such a compound noun is written as a single word m this

manual, but regular orthography writes two words.

19.3 Kinship Terminology.

f f f ^ ^ / f
Tata mwasi aakoleisa mwana moke.

The system of classifying relatives used by speakers of

Lmgala is quite different from that used by speakers of English.
Consequently, translation of kinship terms can only be approximated.
In the example above. The (baby's) aunt is feeding the baby',
/tata mwasi/ corresponds only partially to 'aunt'. It means 'fa-
ther's sister' and certain other female relatives of one's father,
e.g., 'paternal grandfather's brother's daughter'.

One's mother's sister is /mama/ i.e., 'mother', likewise

/tata/ IS also 'father's brother. There is '
a special term for
'maternal uncle', /noko/, (Cf. Dialogue 6.)

There is not sufficient space m this manual for a detailed

discussion of social organization and kinship terminology. Inter-
ested students can read a standard anthropological work, such as
Murdock, G. P., Social Structure , Macmillan, New York, 19^9.

20i|
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 20

Unit 20

Basic Sentences

-A-

'ambassade '
embassy
1. Awa Ambassade ya Amerique'2 Is this the American Embassy'2

-B-
\
2. Yango mpenza. Ookoluka Indeed it is. What do you
mm? want?

-A-

viza (visa) visa

mobembOj mi- journey, trip

3. Nayei mpo na visa. Nalmgi I've come for a visa. I want

f p f
nakende mobembo na Amerique. to make a trip to America.

-B-

l\. Okende kosala mm kuna? What do you intend to do there?

-A-

5. Nakei koyekola. I'm leaving to go to school.

-B-

o. Osili omikomisi nkombo na Have you already been admitted

umversite oyo okok^nde? to the university to which
you are going?

-A-

7. ^^ , na Umversite ya Yes, at the University of

California. California.

205
UNIT 20 LING A LA

o. Eloko mm okoyekola? What are you going to study?

9. Sciences' economiques. Economics,

-B-

10. Mbula bom okouraela loina? How many years are you gom^
to stay?

-A-

11. Mmei too mitanu. Pour or five,

•B-

12. Nam akofutela yo kelasi, Who will pay for your school-
baboti? ing, your parents?

-A-

' bourse d' etudes' scholarship

13. Nazwaki bourse d 'etudes na I have received a scholarship

gouvernement americam. from the American Government,

-B-

tondo
I I
to wish, hope, thank

mobembo , mi- trip, journey, voyage

toward, to; at, m, on, by

1/|. Malamu, naakotondo yo Fine, I hope you have a good

mobembo malamu o Amerique, trip to America, and study
f * f A
mpe oyekolaka makasi. hard.

-B-

15» Melesi, otikala malamu, Thanks, and goodby, m case

soko tokomonana lisusu
I t I
we don't see each other
te. again.
206
 . . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 20

USEFUL PHRASES

Moyangeli ya banki atondisi The bank manager had me fill

ngai fxsi. out some forms.

Moyangeli ya banki atondiseli The bank manager filled out

ngai fisi. some forms for me.

Moyangeli ya banki apesi ngai The bank manager gave me some

fisi mpo natondisa. forms to fill out.

ifo nazwa inbongo na banki. I have to withdraw some money

from the bank.

ifo nazwela mwana na ngai ya I have to get my son a dog.

mobali mbwa
f f f f r
Ifo nazwela mwana na ngai ya I have to get my daughter a

mwa SI nko ndo ko I I I

cat.
A A P f P A

Tolobakilobaki butu mobiraba. We chatted all night.

p A f f f f p
Totambolitamboli butu mobimba. We walked all night.

Tobetibeti makolo butu mobimba

I t
¥e walked all night.

Tokati nzete ndambondambo We cut the log up into pieces.

f p p p
Tokati nzete bitenibiteni. We cut the log up into pieces.

Nakanaki nakende. I wish I could go.

Nakanisaki mbula eekokatana I wish it would stop raining.

konoko
t I

Nakanaki kosomba motuka na I wish I could have bought a

sanza eleki. car last month.

Naakokana kosomba motuka na I wish I could buy a car next

sanza ekoyaa. month.

Naakokana nasomba motuka na I wish I could buy a car this

sanza oyo month.

207
UNIT 20 LINGALA

-yangela to manage, administrate,

arrange

banki (banque) bank

fisi (fiche) form, blank

ifo (il faut) it IS necessary to, one has to

has to

mbwa , m- dog

nkondoko, n- cat

NOTES

20.1 /ifo/ plus Subjuntive

Ifo nazwa mbongo na banki.

/ifo/, French, il faut', 'it's necessary to', 'one has to',

followed a Lingala subjunctive occurs very frequently, as m the
sentence above, 'I have to withdraw money from the bank'. /ebongi/
and /ifo/ may be freely substituted for one another m this type of
construction.

20.2 Reduplication for Intensity

f f f ^ f f f
Tolobakilobaki butu mmgi.

The base of a stem may be reduplicated or doubled for mten-

sity, e.g., /tolobakilobaki/ 'we chatted', 'we talked and talked'.
In a reduplicated stem, only the tone of the first syllable of the
first base is fixed. Other syllables have tones as described m
Note 2.2.

20.3 Wishes, Intentions, Plans

Nakanaki nakende

Wishes, intentions, and plans are expressed by /-kana/ or

208
 1 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 20

/-kanisa/, e.g., the sentence above translates, 'I have decided to

go', 'I wish I could go', 'I intend to go', 'I believe I will go'.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Oyebi motu moko na Amerique? Do you know anyone m America?

2. Oyebi Ambassade ya Amerique '^

Do you know where the American
Embassy is?

3. Awa Ambassade ya Amerique? Is this the American Embassy?

> f r f »

\\. Awa esika ya kobwaka mikanda ? Is this the post office?

r f r r r

5. Azali esika ya kobwaka mikanda? Has he gone to the post office?

' ' ' '
6. Azali kobongisa biloko inpo He IS packing his things for
na mobembo . a trip.

7. Bamosusu bazali kobongisa The others are packing their

biloko mpo na mobembo. bags

0. Bamosusu bazali mpembeni The others are (sitting) at

ya mesa . the table.

9. Monganga azali mpembeni The doctor is (standing) by

ya mesa. the table.

10. Monganga azali kosalisa The doctor is taking care of

motu amizokisaki. the man who hurt himself.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Nasilisi mosala na ngai. I 've just finished my work.

2. Nasili kosala mosala na ngai . I 've already finished my work.

3- Nakei kosala mosala na ngai. I'm (just) leaving for work.

14.. Nakei kosilisa mosala na ngai I 'm getting back to work. I 'm

going to continue working.

5. Na z a 1 kosilisa mosala na ngai. I'm about to finish my work.

209
UNIT 20 LING A LA

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Naakoleka mpembeni na ndako, I'm going by (near) the house.

2. Naakoleka na katikati na I'm going through the house.

ndako..

3. Naakobima na ndako. I'm coming out of the house.

if. Naakotika ndako. I'm going away from the house.

5. Naakotika na ndako . I'm leaving it m the house.

6. Nakei na ndako. I'm entering the house. I'm

going home.

7. Na ke 1 o ndako. I'm going to(ward) the house.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL \\

1. Azali o esika ya kobwaka He IS at the post office.

mikanda
/ / ^ / *
2. Akendeki o esika ya kobwaka He went to the post office.
mikanda
/ / / f
3. Akendeki o zando . He went to the market.

I4.. Nazali kokende o zando. I 'm on my way to the market.

5. Nazali kokende o Amerique . I'm going to America.

6. Nakei na Amerique. I'm leaving for America.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

1. Babengaka ye Polo. They named him Paul. His

name is Paul.

2. Babengi ye Polo, They called him Paul (by

mistake ) .

3. Babengi biloko na Mputu . They ordered some things from

Europe.
210
 .

BASIC COURSE IINIT 20

Ij.. Babengi ngai na telefon They phoned me from Europe

na Mputu.

5. Atelefonaki ngai na Mputu. He phoned me from Europe,

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Tolobakilobaki mmgi. We chatted a long time.

2. Batambolitamboli mmgi. They walked a very long way.

* ^ p p p p

3.
-^
mokolo
Batambolitamboli — —
I I I
They walked the whole day.
mobimba

ii. Motu asalaki mokolo mobimba The man workea all day.

5. Motu asalaka mikolo nyonso . The man worked every day.

6. Motu asalaka bifandeli ya The man makes wooden chairs.

mabaya .

7. Mwasi amisombeli bifandeli The woman bought herself some

ya mabaya. wooden chairs.

o. Mwasi amisombeli sapato ya The woman bought herself some

sika . new shoes.
' ' ' '
9. Ape 31 bango sapato ya sika. She gave them new shoes.

10. Apesi bango matambala ya She gave them some old head-
kala. scarfs .

Pattern Drill 1

1. Ebongi nakende na avio. I have to go by plane.

2. Ifo nakende na avio. I have to go by plane.

I I I

3. Ifo nakende kokamata mwasi I have to go get my wife who'll

akoyaa na avio . be arriving by plane.

I4.. Ebongi nakende kokamata I have to go get my wife who'll

mwasi akoyaa na avio. be arriving by plane.

211
UNIT 20 LING A LA

5. Ebongi lobi na ntongo He has to get up early tomorrow

alongwa na mpongi na morning.
ntangu malamu .

6. Ifo lobi na ntongo alongwa He has to get up early tomorrow

f * *
na mpongi ntangu malamu. morning.
^ ^ ^ ^ p

7. Ifo batondisa fisi liboso They had to fill out some forms
ya kokende . before leaving.

0. Ebongi batondisa fisi They had to fill out some forms

liboso ya kokende. before leaving.

9. Ebongi tobongola lelo We have to plow the field today.

mabele o lisala .

10. Ifo tobongola lelo mabele We have to plow the field today.
o lisala.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 7

1. Nakanisaki mbula eekokatana I wish it would stop raining.

konoko
I t

2. Nakanisaki nakokaki kosomba I wish I could buy a new car.

motuka ya sika .

3. Nakanaki nasomba motuka I wish I could buy a new car.

ya sika.

^
li. Nakanaki nakende. 1 1-
I wish I could go.

5. Nakanaki kosomba motuka I wish I could have bought a

na sanza eleki. car last month.

o.
f ft
Naakokana kosomba motuka I wish I could buy a car next
na sanza ekoyaa . month.

7- Nakanisi akosomba motuka I think he will buy a car next

na sanza ekoyaa. month.

212
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 20

8. Nakanisi akoyaa na sanza I believe he's coming next

ekoyaa. month.
^ f ^ f f ^
9. Nakanisaki akoyaa na sanza I thought he was coming last
eleki. month.
/ ^ ^ ^ f

10. Nakanisaki akoyaa ntangu I wish he had come when we

tozalaka na Boma. lived at Boma

213
UNIT 21 LING A LA

Unit 21

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. Ekomeli na ngai ebungi, My pencil is lost. Have you

Omoni yango te'i seen it?

-B-

2. Te , otiyi yango epai No, where did you put it?

wapi?

-A-

3. Natikaki yango likolo I put it on the table, but it

ja mesa, kasi sika isn't there noxir.

awa ezali te

-B-
1

L\.. Omoni na nse ya 10033*2 Did you look under the table?

Ntangu mosusu ekwei Maybe it fell off.

na ns 3

-A-

5. Oo, yango wana. Elali Oh, there it is. It's lying

na nse ya mesa kasi under the table next to the
mpembeni ya ndako. wall.

-B-

-gumba to fold, bend, stoop

-lokoto to pick up, gahter, collect

211;
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 21

6. Q-umbaina na nse olokoto

I I I
Stoop down and pick it up. ¥ho
yango. Ookozila nam? are you waiting for*?

-A-

7. El<Mex mosika nakoma te It's fallen way back.

8. Yaka topusa mesa mpembeni. Come, let's move the table

sideways

•B-

-benda to draw/pull/move m/
out/up/of f/over

9. Kende kolokoto
I III nzete na Go get a stick outside to rake
libanda obenda ya it out with. I'm very tired,
(.yjango. Nalembi mmgi.

-A-

10. Soko nanyakoli ndako na If I scratch the wall with the

nzete, etali yo ee. stick, it's your responsi-
bility.

-B-

nkoo, nko, n- mtent, malice, purpose,

will

11. Boongo ookosala na nko? Well, are you going to do it

on purpose?

boye thus, so

12. Soko boye, tika yango If that's the case, let it

epolo
^ wana. rot there.
I I

-A-

13- Ndenge mm natika? Why should I get it?

215
UNIT 21 LING A LA

1[|. Soki boye, defisa ngai If that's the case, lend xne

ekomeli na yo moko, one of your pencils so I

nasala misala na ngai. can do my homework.

-B-

15. Kama ta Take one.

USEFUL PHRASES

Ezali na efelo. It's on the wall.

Ezali penepene ya efelo. It's near the wall.

Ezali katikati ya efelo. It's mside the wall.

Akatisi zamba. He went through the forest.

Atamboli na zamba. He took a walk outside. He's

gone hunting.

Akei na zamba. He went into the interior.

He's gone hunting.

Benda mpema Inhale

Bimisa mpema. Exhale.

Tombala radio otia mpembeni, Pick up the radio and put

it over there.

Fungola radio. Turn the radio on.

Kanga radio. Turn the radio off.

Kanga mas mi ya kokaukisa Turn the clothes drier off.

bilamba

Fungola mas mi ya kokaukisa Turn the clothes drier on.

bilamba

Pelisa mwmda. Light the lamp. Turn the

light(s) on.

216
 -

BASIC COURSE UNIT 21

Boma mwmda. Extinguish the lamp. Turn

the light(s) off.

Tiya prxse ya frigo. Connect the refrigerator.

Tiya mo to na lituka. Turn the stove on.

Tiya prise. Connect the plug.

Longola prise. Disconnect the plug.

Benda prise. Disconnect the plug.

Benda prise ya frigo, Disconnect the refrigerator.

Boma lituka. Turn the stove off.

efelo, bi- wall

p^nepen^ near, close, by, against

katikati m between, m the middle/

center of

zamba woods, forest, jungle;

interior, outside,
country

mpema , m- breath

- tombala to pick up, lift, carry

radio, radio radio

-kauka, -kaoka to be (come) dry

frigo (frigo) refrigerator

1 1 tuka , ma three stones used to cook

on, cook stove

'prise '
plug (electrical)

21.1 Double Spatial Relationships

Elali na nse ya mesa kasi mpembeni ya ndako.

When specifying the location of objects m relation to two
other objects, (l) a particle such as /kasi/, 'but', or (2) a

217
UNIT 21 LING A LA

pause, /,/, occurs between the two reference locations, or (3) one
reference location is m
a subordinate clause, e.g., (l) /Elali na

nse ya mesa kasi mpembeni ya ndako/, 'It's lying under the table
(but) next to the wall. ', (2) /Elali na nse ya mesa, mpembeni ya
ndako/, 'It's lying under the table (,) next to the wall', or (3)
/Bizalaki likolo ya buuku oyo ezalaki likolo ya mesa ./, 'They were
on the book ( which is) on the table .

21.2 Partitive

moko na kati na bmu.

I I

mibale na kati na bango

/...na kati na/ya.../ is a partitive construction, i.e.^it

refers to some or part of a group or whole, e.g., /moko na kati
na bmu/, 'one of you', /mibale na kati na bango/, '
tx-jo of them'.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Ekomeli na ngai ebungi. My pencil is lost.

2. Mwana ya mo ball abungi. The boy is lost.

3. Mwana ya mobali akwei. The boy fell off the bed.

na mbetu .

4. Ekomeli ya mai ya mokanda The pen fell off the bed.

ekwei na mbetu.

S' Ekomeli ya mai ya mokanda The pen fell under the table.
ekwei na nse ya mesa .

6. Mokanda ekwei na nse ya The letter fell under the table,

mesa

7» Mokanda euti na tata . The letter is from my father.

8. Mbc^ngo euti na tata. The money is from my father.

9. Mbongo ekoki te. There isn't enough money.

10. Mai ekoki te There isn't enough water.

218
 . 1 . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 21

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Ezali na use ya kiti kasi It's under the chair next to

mpembeni ya ndako. the wall.

2. Ezali na ns e ka s i na ka 1 It's on the floor between the

ya mesa mibale . two desks.

3. Bizalaki na nse kasi na They were on the floor between

kati ya mesa mibale. the two tables.

\\. Bizalaki likolo ya buuku oyo They were on the book on the
ezalaki likolo ya mesa . table
f t r r t
5. Natiyaki yango likolo ya I put them on the book on the
buuku oyo ezalaki likolo table
ya mesa.

6. Natiyaki yango na ka 1 1 ya I put them m the book by the

buuku oyo ezalaki telephone
pen^pene ya telefon .

?• Nazwaki yango na kati ya I found it m a book by the

buuku oyo ezalaki telephone
penepene ya telefon.

o. Nazwaki yango epai otikaki . I found it when you left it.

/ * * * AAA
9. Ezali namu epai otikaki. It's still where you left it.

10. Ezali
A
namu
A
likolo ya mesa
A A
It's still m the dining room
na eteni ya kolia . on the table

Pattern Drill 1

1. Ekomeli elali na nse ya The pencil is under the table.

A
mesa

2. Ekomeli elali na likolo The pencil is on the table.

ya mesa.

3. Ekomeli elali na nsima ya The pencil is behind the table,

A
mesa
219
UNIT 21 LING A LA

L\.. Ekomeli elali na liboso The pencil is m front of the

ya mesa. table

5. Ekomeli elali na mpembeni The pencil is lying near the

ya mesa, table
^
6.
AAA
Ekomeli elali na nsuka ya
A
The pencil is lying at the edge
mesa. of the table.

7. Ekomeli elali penepene na The pencil is lying (right) by

mesa the table
A A A A A A
O
o. Ekomeli elali mosika na The pencil is a long way from
mesa the table.

9. Ekomeli elaleli mesa. The pencil is leaning against

the table.

10. Ekomeli ezali na ka t i ya The pencil is m the table.

mesa

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Balokoti nzete na libanda

t I
They picked up a stick outside
A A
mpo na kobenda ekomeli. to rake the pencil out with.

2. Kama ta nzete na libanda Get a stick outside to rake the

mpo na kobenda ekomeli. pencil out with.

3 . Kama ta ekomeli na ngai Take one of my pencils to do

moko osala na yango . your work with.
(Take pencil of me one, you work
with it.
.
A A A A A
\\. Zwa ekomeli na ngai moko Take one of my pencils to do
osala na yango. your homework with.

5. Zwa oyo nalobi na yo . Take what I told you.

o.
- AAA
Bosala oyo
A
nalobi na bmu.
A A
Do what I told you.

7. Bosala mosala na bmu Do the work before night falls.

liboso molili ekweya .

220
 a +

BASIC COURSE UNIT 21

8. Ebongi
— f moko
1
na kati na 1 — One of you has to finish the
A ^
^ f f
binu asilisa mosala work before night falls.
f f f f A
liboso molili eki-jeya .

9. Ebongi moko na kati na One of you has to finish the

bmu asilisa mosala job before the sun rises.
liboso moi ebima .

10. Ifo mibale na kati na Two of them have to finish

bango basilisa mosala the job before the sun
liboso moi ebiraa. comes up.

Pattern Drill 2

1. Yaka kosalisa ngai Come help me move the table

nalongola mesa. out.

2. Yaka osalisa ngai Come help me move the table

nalongola mesa. out.

3 . Ya ka kobendisa ngai Come help me move the trunk.

sanduku .

* f f f * f
]\. Yaka obendisa ngai Come help me move the trunk.
sanduku.

5. Yaka kofwandisa ngai. Come over for a chat. Come

over and keep me company.
, r f f f f r
0. Yaka ofwandisa ngai. Come over for a chat. Come
over and keep me company.

7. Yaka kogumbisa ngai Come help me fold the sheets

bilamba ya mbetu .

8. Yaka og-umbisa ngai Come help me fold the sheets

bilamba ya mbetu.

9. Yaka togumba bilamba Come, let's fold the sheets.

ya mbetu.

10. Yaka tobenda sanduku. Come, let's move the trunk.

221
UNIT 21 LING A LA

Pattern Drill 3

1. Ezali likolo ya mesa, It's on the table next to the

penepene ya tasi. cup.

2. Ezali likolo ya mesa, kasi It's on the table next to the

penepene ya tasi. cup.

3. Ezali na mabele, penepene It's on the floor by the door.

ya monoko ya ndako .

\\. Ezali na mabele, kasi It's on the floor by the door.

penepene ya monoko
ya ndako.

5. Ezali likolo ya mesa, na It's on the table between the

kati ya buuku mibale . books
' ' ' '
6. Ezali likolo ya mesa, kasi It's on the table between the
na kati ya buuku mibale. books.

7. Ezali na kati ya Imzanza , It's ma box under the bed.

na nse ya mbetu .

8. Ezali na kati ya Imzanza, It's ma box under the bed.

kasi na nse ya mbetu.

9. Ezali na kati ya sani , It's on a plate m the window,

likolo ya linmisa .

10. Ezali na kati ya sani, It's on a plate m the window.

kasi likolo ya lininisa.

222
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 22

Unit 22

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. Otobisi oyo ezali kokende Where is this bus going?

wapi?

-B-

2. Marensa. Olmsi
° okende I I
To Marensa. Where do you
wapi? want to go?

-A-

3. Kimwenza. Soko nakamati To Kimwenza. If I take it,

yango nakokoma te? won't I get there?

Ll. Okokoma, kasi noki te, mpo You'll get there, but not fast
okokita mbala raingi na because you'll (have to)
nzela change busses several times
on the way.

-A-

5. Otobisi mosusu oyo ekendeke ''ill Is there another bus that

mbala moko na Kimwenza
I I
goes directly to Kimwenza?
ezali?

-B-

6. Soko olmgi oyo wana, If you want that one, you'll

okozila mwaa ngonga (have to) wait quite a
f f f f f p
mmgi
° na esika otelemi. I I
while where you are standing

-A-

7. Okanisi ngonga boni? How long do you think?

223
UNIT 22 LING A LA

-B-

o. Nayebi te, rtipo otobisi I don't know because a bus

f f * /
moko ya Kimwenza eleki to Kimwenza went by just
mwaa sika oyo a moment ago.

-A-

9. Yebisa ngai namu, otobisi Tell me, is the interior of

ezalaka mpe malamu na this bus clean?
kati?

-B-

10. Ezali malamu, mabe nde It's clean, only there's lots
mak^lele mmgi. of noise.

-A-

11. Longwa awa tii na Kimwenza Prom here to Kimwenza how many
baarrets bizali boni? stops are there?

mpamba free, worthless, only,

without reason, vain
^ ^ p ^ ^
12, Nakanisi mibale too I believe only two or three.
misatu mpamba.

-A-

13. Talela ngai namu kuna Look over there, isn't that
oyo wana bus ya Kimwenza? the bus to Kimwenza?

makila blood; fate, destiny

114.. Ozali na makila malamu You're m luck today, it's

lelo, yango wana bus the Kimwenza bus.
ya Kimwenza.

ZZh,
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 22

USEFUL PHRASES

Epai wapi bazwaka taksi? Where is the taxi stand?

Epai wapi gare ya otobisi ezali'2 Where is the bus station?

Epai wapi gare ya masini ezali? Where is the tram station?

Epai wapi libanda ya avio ezali? Where is the airport?

r f r f r r r
Epai wapi libongo ya masuwa ezali? Where is the ferry crossing?
Where is the harbor?

Tiya kiti ya bibende na balasani. Put the metal chairs on the

veranda
f f * f f * f
Tiya kiti ya nkekele na balasani. Put the xiTicker chairs on the
veranda

Tiya ekolo ya nkekele na balasani. Put the basket on the porch.

Maso akotobola ndele lininisa na The mason will cut a window

efelo. m the wall some time m
the future

Maso akotobola lininisa na efelo The mason will cut a window m

mokolo the wall the day after tomor-
Ill nsima ya lobi. ''
I

row.

Maso akotobola lininisa na efelo

I I
The mason will cut a window m
nsima ya mikolo misatu. the wall three days from now.
(See Note 22.2.)
f f f f f
Maso atobolaki lininisa na efelo
I I
*
The mason cut a window m the
lobilobi eleki. wall the day before yesterday.

Maso atobolaki lininisa na efelo

I I
The mason cut a window m the
mikolo misatu mileki. wall three days ago.

Lokoto Pick up the sleeping mats.

Ill ma toko.
II
Lokoto nkoni.
I I I
Gather some firewood.

Lokoto Pick up the pieces of the

Ill biteni ya talatala. -^

mirror.
225
UNIT 22 LING A LA

taksi (taxii taxicab

gare station
libongo, ma- shore, quay, wharf, dock
balasanx veranda, porch; hat brim
A * f
nkekele, n- cane, reed, liana, wickerwork
masO (ma9on) mason, bricklayer
--tobolo I I I
to pierce, puncture; speak ill
of someone
ndele I I
some time, m the future
litoko, ma- mat, sleeping mat
nkoni, n- firewood
talatala mirror, pane of glass, spectacles,
lamp, chimney

NOTES

22.1 /longwa awa tii na Kimwenza/

Review Notes 8.9 and 9*5

22.2 /nsima ya mikolo misatu/

The meaning of the above phrase is ambiguous. The speaker
on whose speech this manual is based uses this phrase only m the
sense, 'three days from now', but many persons use this phrase to
mean 'two days from now'.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Otobisi oyo ekokende wapi? Where is this bus going?

2. Otobisi oyo ekoteleme na

•^ 1—— I
This bus IS going to Marensa.
Marensa .

3. Otobisi oyo ekokoma na This bus will take you to

Kimwenza . Kimwenza

\\. Nakamati bus na Kimwenza I took the bus to Kimwenza.

5. Nakamati bus mbala moko. I took the bus (only) once.

6.
• ——
Okoteleme na arret mbala
I
The bus will stop (only) once.
moko
I I

226
 )

BASIC COURSE UNIT 22

7 . Soko okamati yango ,

If you take that one, you'll
okoteleme na arret. stop only once (i.e., you
get off at the second bus
stop.

8. Soko okamati yango, okokoma If you take this one, you'll

noki.
—I
get there quickly.

9 . Soko olmgi oyo wana ,

If you take that one, you'll
okokoma noki. t
get there fast.
f * ^ f ft f
10. Soko olmgi oyo wana, ezali If you take that one, it's O.K.
malamu mabe nde makelele. but there's a lot of noise.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Okanisi ngonga boni? How long do you think it will be?

2. Okanisi arrets ya otobisi How many stops do you think the

bizali boni ? bus makes?

3. Arrets ya otobisi bizali How many stops are there on the

boni na Kimwenza ? way to Kimwenza?
i\.. Oko tonga ndako misatu You are going to build three
na Kimwenza. houses at Kimwenza.

5. Okotonga ndako misatu soko If you buy the ground where

p f ^ p f p f
osombi esika ot^lemi . you are standing, you can
build three houses on it.

6. Okomiyibisa biloko soko

1^ 1 y. I t
If you buy that place, you'll
osombi esika otelemi. be the cause of your things
being stolen yourself, (i.e.,
knowing the danger of theft
there, you would be foolish
to make it easy for thieves.)

7. Okomiyibisa
^ biloko
II —soko I — »-
If you go into the house, you'll
akoti na ndako. be responsible for anything
that ' s stolen.

227
UNIT 22 LING A LA

Okolobaloba mmgi soko If he goes into the house, you'll

akoti na ndako.
f
talk and talk.

Okolobaloba mmgi ntangu You'll complain a lot when he

akokende na Amerique . goes to America.

10, Ntangu akokende na Amerique If you go to America, I'll be

nakozala malamu. all right.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

Motu ya kabmda akati The carpenter cut a notch m

mwaa eteni ya libaya. the wood.

Motu ya kabmda alongoli The cabinetmaker cut out a notch

mwaa ndambo ya libaya . m the wood.

1 —
Motu moko alongoli
° mwaa
I-
Someone cut out a notch m the
ndambo ya libaya. wood.
f f ^ f f *
Motu moko afungolaki mas mi Someone turned on the washing
ya kosukola bilamba . machine

Motu moko akangaki

I " I
masmi Someone turned off the washing
ya kosukola bilamba. machine

Mobongisi akangaki mas mi The repairman turned off the

ya kosukola bilamba. washing machine.

Mobongisi akatisi lisala The repairman crossed the

na mbangu . field on the run.

Mbwa ekatisi lisala na The dog crossed the field m

mbangu. a hurry.

Mbwa elalaka na nse ya The dog sleeps under the house.

ndako .

10, Mbwa elalaka na ka 1 1 ya The dog sleeps between the houses,

ndako mibale.

228
 . . I

BASIC COURSE UNIT 22

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 1^

1. Tiya kiti ya nkekele na Put the wicker chairs on the

balasani. porch.

2. Tiya kiti ya ma bay a na Put the wooden chairs m the

kuku . kitchen.

3. Maso akotobola ndele 1 — I 1

The mason will cut a window m
lininisa na kuku. the kitchen some time later
m the future.

^
Ll. Maso akotobola ndele I I I I
The mason will cut a window
linmisa na ndako ya m the dining room one of
kolia . these days.

5.
-^ Tanda ma toko
+
nyonso
!^—
na 1 1-
Spread all the mats m the
ndako ya kolia. dining room.

D. Tanda ma toko nyonso na Spread all the mats m the su

moi mpo makauka . sun to dry.

7. Boi atiki matoko

II nyonso '^ I I
The house boy left all the
na raoi mpo makauka. mats m the sun to dry.

8. Boi atiki mesa ya

I ^
nkekele 1 —— I I-
The boy left the wicker table
na libanda . outside.
f ^ / / f A r
9. Nam a tiki mesa ya nkekele
III ''
¥ho left the wicker table
na libanda? outside?

10. Nam atiki mesa ya bibende Who left the metal table
na libanda'2 outside?

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

1.
II mokolo ya kosukola
Lelo I I I
-^
Today is wash day.
bilaraba

2.
II mokolo
Lelo 111"^ya kobongisa
g 1
Today is housecleamng day.
ndako

229
UNIT 22 LING A LA

3 . Bana ya mosala babongisi The domestics straightened up

ndako. the house.

\\. Bana ya mosala baakopasola The domestics are splitting

nkoni. firewood.

5. Andele aakopasola nkoni. Andre splitting firewood.

6. Andele azilaki tata Andre was waiting for the boss

akende mosala.
I I
to leave for work.

7. Andele na Alobe bazilaki Andre and Albert are waiting

tata akende na mosala. for the boss to leave for
work.

8. Andele na Alobe baakobimisa Andre and Albert are bringing

kiti na mesa na libanda . the table and chairs outside.

9. Batongi ndako baakobimisa The masons are bringing the

kiti na mesa na libanda. table and chairs outside.

10. Batongi ndako baakoyoka The masons are too hot.

molunge mmgi na nzotu .

GRAW'IATICAL DRILL 6

1. Mwana oyo azali na mayele This child IS mentally retarded.

molcuse

2. Miifana oyo
^ aakokombo talatala
1 %
The child is wiping the mirror
na eteni ya elamba . with a piece of cloth.

3. Kulutu na ngai aakokombo My sister is wiping the mirror

talatala na eteni ya with a piece of cloth.
elamba

\\. Kulutu na ngai azalaka na My brother used to have a black

motuka ya mwmdu . autom.obile

5. Mokombi balabala azalaka

1
The streetcleaner used to have
na motuka ya mwmdu. a black automobile.

230
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 22

Mokombi balabala azali na The poad repairman was lucky

makila malarau lelo.I — I-
today.

Leki na ye asali na makila Your brother was lucky today.

malamu lelo.
I I

Lekx na ye alongoli Your sister took off the

bolangiti na bilamba blanket and all the bed
nyonso ya mbetu . clothes.

Nayebi te nam alongoli I don't know who took off the

bolangiti na bilamba blankets and all the bed
nyonso ya mbetu. clothes

10. Nayebi te epai ya gare I don't know where the tram

ya masini ezali . station IS.

231
UNIT 23 LING A LA

Unit 23

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. Bana bakei wapi'J Where have the children gone*?

-B-

2. Bakei na eteyolo kosakana They have gone to school to

na ndembo. play soccer.

-A-

Soko tolei mahe'i Mpo Suppose we eat, that'd be all

nazali kokende epai. right, wouldn't it? Because
I'm going somewhere.

-B-

l\.. Wapi? ¥here'J

-A-

Nzambe God

Ndako-Nzambe church

-longana to marry, get married

(Christian rite)

5. Nalmgi nakende na Ndako- I want to go to the church to

^ f f
Nzambe kotala bolongani be present at the marriage
ya moninga na ngai Michel. of my friend Michel.

-balana to marry, get married

( traditional)

6. Baakobalana lelo? Are they getting married today?

232
 , , .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 23

-A-

7. Lelo ko.' na mpokwa .'

Yes indeed, this afternoon.

-B-

8. Soki bana bazalaki awa If the children were here, we

nde tokei bisu mibale. would go together.

9. Michel bango na mwasi na Michel and his wife really love

ye balmgani mmgi mpenza. each other.

-A-

10. Ezali ya sooloJ Bolingo That's true. They have loved

na bango euta bomwana. each other since childhood.

11. Nsiina ya Ndako-Nzambe After (having been at) the

bokokende kobma wapi? church, where are you going
to dance?

-A-

12. Nakanisi na ndako ya Michel. I believe at Michel's house.

-B-

13. Ozongaka ntangu malamuJ Come home at a reasonable hour,

USEFUL PHRASES

Mamelo azali kosambela The nun is praying.

Mamelo azali kotanga buuku The nun is reading (from) the

ya bisambo. prayerbook.

Mamelo alati sutani ya mpembe The nun is wearing a long

white robe.

Mope aakobalisa balongani. The priest is marrying the

couple

233
UNIT 23 LINGALA

Pastele aakobalisa balongani, The minister is marrying the

couple.

Lopete ya maliasi ezali ya The wedding ring is made out

mbongo. of silver.

Lopete ya bolongani ezali The wedding ring is made out

ya wolo. of gold.

Zuzi apesi bango ndmgisa ya The judge gave them a divorce.

koboma libala.
^ f f f f
Zuzi apesi bango nzela ya The judge gave them a divorce.
koboma libala.

Azali mokristu ya mope. He IS Catholic.

Azali mokristu ya misyoni. He IS Protestant.

Azali mokristu ya ngelesa. He belongs to the Salvation

Army.

Azali mopagano. He IS a pagan.

Nganga nkisi aakobikisa motu The medicine man heals people.

ya malali.

Nganga nkisi aakobengana The medicine man chases away

badiabolo. the evil spirits.

Nganga nkisi anokisi mbula The medicine man made it ram.

Tombola mosikitele. I I
Put up the mosquito netting.

Kangaka
° mosikitele. I I
Always keep the mosquito
netting closed.
/ / /
Nabotami na Zavie.
f
I was born m January.
^ f f
Nabotami na Fevlie.
^

I was born m February.

Nabotami na Malasi. I was born m March.
Nabotami na Aprili. I was born m April.
Nabotami na Mai. I was born m May
2.^h
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 23

Nabotami na Yum. I was born m June.

Nabotami na Yuli. I was born m July.
r r r
Nabotami na Augusti.
/
I was born m August.
Nabotami na Setembe. I was born m September.
Nabotami na Okotobe. I was born m October.
^ / >
Nabotami na Novembe.
f
I was born m November.
/ / ^
Nabotami na Desembe.
f
I was born m December.
mamelo (ma mere) nun

-samba to plead

-sambela to plead for someone;

prayj perform/conduct
religious services

esambo, bi- prayer

sutani (soutane, cloth (clergy); cassock

-balisa to marry, give m

marriage, perform a

marriage ceremony

pastele (pasteur) minister, clergyman

( Protestant)

maliasi (manage) marriage

bolongani, bolongani, ma- marriage (Christian

rite); married person

wolo gold

zuzi, zuze ( juge) judge j court, tribunal

libala, ma- marriage (traditional)

mokristu, monkristu, ba- Christian

misyoni (mission) missionary, clergyman

(Protestant)

235
UNIT 23 LING A LA

ngelesa
"I I
Protestant, Salvation Army

mopagano, ba- pagan

nganga, ba- a specialist, master of trade;

native doctor; one who con-
ducts religious services

-benga to follow, hunt, chase, pursue;

approach, go to; to be on the
point of

diabolo, ba- devil, evil spirit

mosikitele, mi- mosquito netting

(moustiquaire)

NOTES

23.1 Suggestive Cohortative

Soko tolei mabe?

/soko/ and the immediate past mark a suggestive cohortative,

which usually translates, 'Suppose...', e.g., /Soko tolei mabe?'/,
'Suppose we eat, that'd be all right, wouldn't it's '

GRA..MMATICAL DRILL 1

Mwana akei wapi? Where has the child gone?

2. Mwana akei koteya na The boy has gone to teach at

eteyelo > the school.

3 Molakisi aakoteya na The instructor is teaching

eteyelo. the school.

\\. Molakisi aakolongana lelo The instructor is getting

na Ndako-Nzambe. married at the church today.

236
 . . . . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 23

, f f f ^ ^
5. Baninga baakolongana lelo My friends are getting
na Ndako-Nzambe married at the church today.

6. Baninga bakozonga na ntangu My friends won't get back

ma lamu . too late.

7. Tata akozonga na ntangu My father will get back

ma lamu. fairly early.

8. Tata akokende 1 1
kobma na My father is going to dance
ndako ya Michel . at Michel 's.

9. Balongani bakokende kobma The married couple (s) will

na ndako ya Michel. dance at Michel's house.

10. Balongani bazongi o mboka . The husband and wife went

to their village.

GRAMIATICAL DRILL 2

1. Nasombeli ndako lifungola I bought a new key for the

ya s ika house

2. Nasombeli babmi masanga . I bought the dancers some

drinks

3. Tozali kopesa babini masanga, We are giving the dancers

some drinks.

i\. Tozali kopesa balongani We are giving the couple

bosalisi . assistance

5. Tozali kosenga lifuta na We are asking the purchasers

basombi . for payment.

6. Touti kosenga lifuta na We have just asked the

basombi. purchasers for payment.
f f f p /
7. Touti kopesa ye liyebisa . We have come to give him a
notice.

237
UNIT 23 LING A LA

8. Motongi ya ndako azali The contractor is going to give

f f *
kopesa ye liyebisa. him the notice.

9. Motongi ya ndako azali na The builder has a wooden ladder.

ebuteli ya mabaya .

10. Mobomi azalaki na ebuteli The assassin had a wooden ladder.

ya mabaya,

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Akozala kotombala mosikitele He'll put up the mosquito net-

/ / ^
likolo liboso ya kolala. ting before going to sleep.

2. Tokangaka mosikitele likolo We closed the mosquito netting

liboso ya kolala. before going to bed.

Tokangaka ma boko ntangu We crossed our arms when he had

azwaka likama. an accident, (i.e., we did not
give him any assistance.)

Bango mibale bamipesanaka He aided the person ('they

maboko ntangu azwaka mutually gave hands') who
likama had an accident.

Bango mibale bamipesanaka They promised to write to each

—I ——
monoko liboso bakabwana.
I I
other after they separated.

Tata apesaka ngai monoko My father gave me some advice

liboso tokabwana. before we separated.

Tata apesaka ngai mwasi My father obtained a wife for

ya kobala . me.

Ata nd^le nakozwa mwasi I will get married sooner or

ya mobala. later.

Ata ndele nakozwa bokonzi Sooner or later I'll have the

na mboka na bisu . power m our country.

10. Nde yo mokonzi na mboka Are you the chief of state of

na bisu? our country's

238
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 23

GRAMMTICAL DRILL 1;

1. Nakomi chec. I wrote a check.

2. Natondisi chec. I filled out a check.

3. Natmdeli ye chec. I sent him a check.

L|_. Natmdi ye na banki . I sent him to the bank.

5« Natmdi chec na banki . I sent the check to the bank.

6. Nazali na mbongo na banki. I have money m the bank.

I deposited money m the bank.

Nazwi mbongo na banki. I withdrew money from the bank.

Nasengi mbongo na banki. I withdrew money from the bank.

Nakei kozwa mbongo na banki, I'm going to the bank to get

some money.

10. Nakei kodefa mbongo na I 'm going to the bank to

banki. borrow some money.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 5

p / / ^
1. Efelo ya ndako ebukani. The wall of the house collapsed.

2. Efelo ya ndako ezali The wall of the house is yellow.

motaneso .

3 Elamba na ye ya maliasi Her wedding gown is light

ezali motaneso. yellow.

i\. Elamba na ye ya bolongani Her wedding gown is light

ezali motaneso. yellow.

5. Elamba na ye ya bolongani Her wedding gown came from

euti na Mputu . Europe.

239
UNIT 23 LING A LA

6. Lopete na ye ya bolongani Her wedding ring came from

euti na Mputu. Europe

7. Lopete na ye ya bolongani Her wedding ring is gold.

ezali ya wolo .

8. Ntangu na ye ya maboko His wristwatch is gold.

ezali ya wolo.
f f *
9. Ntangu na ye ya maboko His wristwatch is broken.
ekuf 1 .

10. Ntangu na ye ya ndako His alarm clock is broken.

ekuf 1.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Mokanda ezalaki likolo ya The letter was on the book on

buuku oyo ezalaki likolo the table.
ya mesa.

2. Natiyi yango likolo ya I put it on the book on the

buuku oyo ezalaki table
likolo ya mesa.

3. Natiyi yango epai otikaki . I put it where you left it.

^ ^ p f f f f
\\, Nazwaki ekomeli epai otikaki, I found the pen where you
left it.

Nazwaki ekomeli likolo ya I found the pencil on the table

f
mesa na eteni ya kolia.
p f
m the dining room.

Tiyela ngai mpondu na loso Put me some rice with manioc

likolo ya mesa na eteni leaves on the table m the
ya kolia. dining room.

7. Tiyela ngai mpondu na loso Put me out some rice with manioc
ba Iambi na pilipili na leaves cooked with peppers
mafuta motane. and palm oil.

2i|0
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 23

8. Fesa ngai biloko balambi Give me something cooked with

f * f
na pxlipili na mafuta peppers and palm oil.
motane

9. Pesa ngai biloko otikaki Give me some of the food that

lobi na mpokwa. you had left yesterday
afternoon.

10. Lakisa ye ekoti otikaki Show her the hat that you
lobi na mpokwa. left yesterday afternoon.

23.2. Distant Indefinite Future

Ata ndel^ nakozwa mwasi ya kobala.

/ata ndele/, 'even sometime', is used to refer to something

that IS hoped or wished for but which is way off m the future if
at all, as m the example above, 'I'll get married one of these
days.

2i+l
UNIT 2[^ LINGALA

Unit 2i|

Basic Sentences

-A-

1. Bozali na bileko boni na How many seasons do you have

mbula moko? per year's

2. Mibale, moko ya mbula, Two, one rainy and the other

mosusu ya elanga dry.

-A-

3. Eleko ya elanga ezali When is the dry season?

ntangu nini'2

\\. Ebandaka na sanza ya moko It lasts from January to June

til na sanza ya motoba.

-A-

5. Oyo ya mbula? And the rainy season?

6. Elanga ya mbula ekamati The rainy season lasts the other

sanza ya motoba, tii six months from June until
* f f f
na oyo ya zomi na mibale. December.

-A-
/ /
7. Lobela ngai mwaa makambo Tell me something about time,
elekaka ntangu wana.

21+2
 BASIC COURSE UNIT 2k

Ntangu ya mbula makama Durmg the rainy season there

mapusi mmgi, rapainba are a lot of natural calam-
te mbula ekonoko I I
mmgi
" ities because it rams a lot
mpe makasi. and very hard.

-A-

nka ke , n- thunder, lightning

9. Bozali na nkake te na Don't you have a lot of thunder'^

mboka na bmu?

10. Tozali na nkake mmgi We have a lot of thunder, and

mpe makasi lokola. it's quite loud.

11, Ntangu ya mbula batu During the ram people don't

basalaka too babimaka work or go outside?
libanda te?

-zmda to sink, drown, flood

12. Mpo na mm te, batu Why not? People usually go

babimaka lokola ntangu out, only there are some
f f f f '
ny<j)nso, kaka nde bandako old houses and small roads
mosusu ya kalakala na that are cut off or submurged
banzela mosusu ya mik^mike under water.
bibukanaka too bizmdaka.

-A-

13. Ndenge mm okoki koyeba How can you know if it's going
r

It mbula
soko
f r *
elmgi konoka? "I f f
to ram?

21^3
UNIT 21; LING A LA

II4.. Ezali mpasi te okomona , It's not difficult. You will

likolo ekomi momdu, see the sky become black and
rapemboka mo 1 ill, na the village gets dark, men
ntangu wana, batu na and animals start looking
nyama bakomi koluka for shelter.
ndako na bango.

USEFUL PHRASES

Eleko ya mpela ezali malamu The rainy season is good for

na kolobo. I I
fishing.

Eleko ya mpela ekokolisa The rainy season makes plants

f f p
bilona mbangumbangu. grow very fast.

Eleko ya mpela ekoiimelaka The rainy season lasts four

sanza mmei too mitanu. or five months.

Mabele ya zelo ebongi na Sandy soil isn't suitable for

mbuma te I
fruits

Mabele ya zelo ebongi na Sandy soil isn't suitable for

ndunda te I
vegetables

Mabele ya zelo ebongi na Sandy soil isn't suitable for

bilona te plants.
p f * p
Mpau, mpo na kobongola mabele A spade is for turning over
earth.

Likwangola, mpo na kikata A machete is for cutting small

nzete ya mike. trees
p p p
Nkongo, mpo na kokata matiti A hoe IS for cutting weeds and
p p p p
mpe kotimola mabulu. digging wells.

Akonaka masangu. He raises corn.

Akonaka kokoti. I I
He raises coconuts.

2I44
 , . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 21).

Akonaka mangolo. He raises mangoes.

p f p p
Atimoli tomato. He hoed the tomatoes.
f f f *
Atimoli nguba He hoed the peanuts.
r r r r f f
Atimoli libela na nkonso. He dug a trench with a hoe.

Akengelaka bibwele. He raises animals.

Abokolaka nyama. He raises animals.

Abokolaka
II ngoinbe.
° I I
He keeps cows.

Abokolaka ntaba.
I I
He keeps goats.

Abokolaka
II merae
II He keeps sheep.

Abokolaka mpata. He keeps sheep.

Mboka ezmdi na mai. The village is flooded.

Mwana azmdi na mai. The child drowned.

Masuwa mazmdi na piai. The boat sank.

lisangu, lisango, ma- a gram of corn

kokoti
I I
coconut, coconut palm

Imgolo, ma- mango, mango tree

nguba , n- peanuts

libela, ma- pit, hole, trench, well,

valley

ewele,' bi-
I I
small domestic animal,
sheep, goat

ngombe , n- cow, bull

ntaba n- goat

mpata, m- sheep

mpela. ru- ram, ramy season, flood

-lobo to fish

-lona to plant, sow

^\\$
UNIT 2[| LINGALA

bilona plant, planting

zelo
I I
sand

ndunda , n- vegetables

likwangola, ma- machete, choppmg-knif e ; part

of a village where ex-soldiers
live

nkongo, n- hoe, pick-ox

-kona to plant, sow

GRA,MMATICAL DRILL 1

1. Bozali na bileko bom How many seasons do you have

na mbula moko*;
I I
m a year?

2. To::ali na bileko mibale We have two seasons m year.

na inbula moko.
I t

3 .
f
Tozali na basanga zomi
^ f *
We have twelve months m a

na mibale na mbula moko. I I

year.

\\. Tozali na basanza zomi na We have twelve months during

mibale mpo na eleko ya the dry season and wet season.
mbula na eleko ya elanga .

5. Lobe la ngai mwaa makambo mpo Tell me something about the wet
na eleko ya mbula na eleko and dry seasons.
ya elanga.

o. Lobela ngai mwaa makambo Tell me something about that

elekaka na ntangu wana . time

7. Na ntangu wana makama During that time, there are a

mapusi mmgi . lot of natural calamities.

o. Makama mapusi mmgi mpamba There are a lot of natural

te mbula ekonoko mmgi calamities because it rams
mpe makasi. long and hard.

21^6
 1

BASIC COURSE UNIT 2k

9 . Tozali na nkake mingi ,

We have a lot of thunder and
mpamba te mbula ekonoko lightning vjhen it rams
mmgi mpe makasi. hard for a long time.

10. Tozali na nkake mmgi na We have a lot of thunder and

mboka na bisu. lightning m our country.

GRAIMATICAL DRILL 2

1. Ntangu ya mbula batu During the ram, people don't

basalaka too babixnaka work or go outside?
* f f
libanda te? s

2. Mpo na mm te , batu Why don't people work or go

basalaka mpe babimaka outside?
libanda?

3. Mpo na mm te, tozali Why not, we have a lot of very

na nkake mmgi mpe loud thunder.
ma ka 3 .

\\. Tozali na nkake mmgi mpe We have a lot of very loud

ma ka s 1 , kasi ntangu ya thunder, but not m the
elanga te . dry season.
' ' '
5. Biloko ya kolia bizali There are lots of things to
mmgi ntangu ya mbula ,
eat m the ra my season, but
kasi ntangu ya elanga te not m the dry season.

o. Biloko ya kolia bizali There are many things to eat

mmgi ntangu ya mbula, m the ramy season because
mpo mai ezali mmgi na there is a lot of water m
mabele . the ground.

7. Mpo mai ezali mmgi na Because there is lots of water

mabele bambut^ia bikokola m the ground, fruits grow
malamu. very well.

2i|7
UNIT 21; LING A LA

Bambuma bikokola malamu Fruits grow well if the soil

——
soko mabele ezali
I I
inalainu. IS good.
f f f * f
Soko mabele ezali malamu
I I
If the soil IS good, plants
bilona bikokola mbangu . grow rapidly.

10, Bilona bikokola mbangu Plants grow rapidly m the

na ntangu ya mbula . rainy season.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 3

1. Lobi mokolo nini'i I I I

What day is tomorrow?

2. mokolo ya mosala
Lobi — I ——
I I <^
Tomorrow is Friday.
mitanu .

3.
-^
Nakosala te mokolo
III''ya I
I won't work Friday.
mosala mitanu.

\\. Nakosala te na ntongo mpe I won't work either the morning

na mpokwa . or the afternoon.

5.
^ Akendeki na Stade Baudoum
1 1
He didn't go to the Stade Baudom
t^ na ntongo mpe na either m the morning or m
mpokwa the afternoon.
6. Akendeki na Stade Baudom
I I
He didn't go to the Stade
te
I
lobi na ntongo.
H-l- 1
Baudom yesterday morning.
7. Okoyaa lobi na ntongo. You will come tomorrow morning.

8. Okoyaa lobi na masanga . You will come tomorrow with the

drinks
^ f f f f
9- Lobela ye ayaa na masanga Tell him to bring some drinks
lobi. tomorrov;.

10. Lobela ye ayaa na bana Tell him to bring the children

lelo.
• V-
today.

2i;8
 . .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 2k

GRAMMATICAL DRILL k

1. Nakex kosala na Kmsasa. I 'm about to go to work m

Leopoldville

2. Nakei kotanga buuku na I 'm about ready to read a

ndako. book at home.

3 Nakosala bilanga na nsima I'll cultivate the fields be

na ndako. behind the house.

i-l-. Nakosala bilanga na nsima I '11 work the fields after

ya elanga . the dry season.
f ' '
5. Baloni bakokeba na ntangu The cultivators are attentive
ya elanga. during the dry season.
f f p
6. Baloni bakokeba na ntangu The cultivators pay attention
bakotiinola mabele . when they are spading up
the ground.

7. Bakotimola mabele na nkongo They turn up the earth with

na mpau . hoes and spades.

8. Aakobongola mabele na They are turning over the

nkongo na mpau. ground with hoes and shovels.

9. Aakobongola mabele na They dig up the ground m the

ya nsuka ya elanga . last month of the dry season.

10. Ebongi malamu olona na It's best to cultivate m the

sanza ya nsuka ya elanga. last month of the dry season.

GRAm-lATICAL DRILL 5

1. Mabele ya mai eekokolisa Wet earth makes plants grow

/ / '
bilona mbangumbangu. very fast.

2. Eleko ya mbula eekokolisa The rainy season makes plants

r f f
bilona mbangumbangu. grow very fast.

211-9
UNIT 2l| LING A LA

3. Eleko ya mbula ekoumelaka The rainy season lasts four or

* f f ^ f A
sanza mmei too mitanu . five months.

\\. Eleko ya mpela eko-umelaka The rainy season lasts four or

r p f r > >

sanza mmei too mitanu. five months

5- Eleko ya mpela ezali malamu The rainy season is good for

na kolobo.
1— •-
fishing.

6. Bwatu ezali malamu na A dugout canoe is good for

kolobo. fishing

7 Bwa tu esalamaka na mabaya A dugout IS (always) made of

makasi . durable wood.

8. Ndako ya bisu esalamaka Our house is built with strong

na mabaya makasi. timbers.

9. Ndako na bisu ekabwani Our house consists of four

na biteni mmei . rooms

10. Ndako na bisu etongamaka Our house was built before the
liboso ya etiomba . war.

GRAMMATICAL DRILL 6

1. Bana batiki maloba na The children pay no attention

ngai makei mpamba to my words.

2. Bana batiki ndembo na The children left the ball on

libanda ya kosana . the playground.

3 Na mpokwa bakobete ndembo This afternoon there will be

na libanda ya kosana. a soccer game at the field.

4-. Na mpokwa tokokende epai . This afternoon we will go

somewhere

5. Balongani bakokende epai. The couple will go somewhere.

6. Balongani balataki bilamba The couple x\rore new clothes.

ya 3ika .

2^0
 .

BASIC COURSE UNIT 21+

7. Lobi bamonaki bango balataki Yesterday they appeared

bilamba ya sika. wearing new clothes.

8. Lobi bamonaki bango ntangu Yesterday they were seen

bautaki na Ndako-Nzambe . leaving the church.
/ / / / * f f
9. Totmdelaki mobali
rawasi na We said hello to the woman
—
mbote ntangu
1
°
I-
bautaki na and man as they were leaving
Ndako-Nzambe the church.

10. Totmdelaki mwasi na mobali We said hello to the woman and

mbote nsima ya bolongani man after their marriage.
na bango .

251
 LING A LA

GLOSSARY

This vocabulary is alphabetized according to the stem con-

sonant and not according to the prefixes, e.g., /mwana/, 'child',
IS alphabetized under 'a'.

mwaa small, little, few

ai oh, hey

alo (alio) hello

'ambassade '
embassy

mwambe , rnwambi eight

mwana, bana child

bomwana, (ma-) childhood

'Anglais '
English

Angele (anglais) English

are (arret) stop

are ya otobisi bus stop

mwa si, ba s woman, female, left (opp. rightl

ata. ataa even, even if, although

ata ndele I I
much later

bwa tu , ma tu dugout canoe, native boat

avasi (avance) advance, part payment, deposit

avio (avion) airplane, airmail

-bakisa to add

-bala to marry (traditional marriage)

252
 BASIC COURSE

libala, ma- marriage (traditional native)

mbala, m- time, times, often mostly

mbala, m- potato

balabala, balabala street, (broad) road

-balana to marry, get married, marry

each other (traditional
marriage)

balasani, balasani veranda, porch; hat brim

ebale, bi- stream, river

mibale two

mobali, mi- man, male; right (opp. left)

-balisa to marry, give m marriage,

perform a marriage ceremony

-banda to start, commence

banda from, since, beginning, start-

ing, continuing/starting from

-bandaka to begin regularly, to last,

continue

libanda outside; yard, field

mbanda, ba- co-wife; brother-in-law

married to wife's sister;
sister- in-law married to
husband's brother; people
who don't like each other

ebandeli, bi- beginning

bobandi, (ma-) beginning, start

libanga, ma- rock, stone

mobanse, mi- elder, old man/woman, age

253
 LING A LA

mbangu, mbango, m- speed, swiftness

bariki (banque) bank

libaya, ma- wood, board} bench, seat; aim,

target; blouse

ma be bad, wicked, ugly

mbe then, otherwise, else; perhaps;

introduces mam clause of con-
ditional sentence

-beka to borrow, buy on credit, ask

for the loan of

-bekisa to lend, give as a loan, pay m

advance, sell on credit

mobeko, mi- law, regulation, obligation, duty

libela, ma- pit, hole, trench; well; valley

-bele to hurt, suffer, be sick

mabele ground, earth, floor

mbele
I I
then; perhaps; else, otherwise
introducing mam clause of
hypothetical supposition

mbeli, m- knife

-bemba to travel

mobembo, mi- trip, journey

-benda to draw/pull/move m, out, up,

off, over

ebende, bi- piece of metal, iron, com,

metal part

libende, ma- rod, post, pole; tamper, tamping

stick

251;
 BASIC COURSE

-bendisa to help pull/move

-benga to follow, hunt, chase, pursue;

approach, go to 5 to be on the
point of

-benga to call, summon; call, name,

order (merchandise)

-bengana to drive away, pursue

'besom '
need

-bete, -beta to hit, strike, knock, beat

ebeteli, bi- hammer, tool for hitting

mbetu, mbeto, m- bed, pallet

-bika to recover, lived, be rescued

Fib 1 la, m- palm nut, palm tree

-bima to go out, come out, go for a

walk, emerge

-bimaka to go/come out regularly-

raobimba, (mi-) entire, whole

-bimisa to have (something) come/go

out

-bimisela to have (something come/go out

for someone)

-bma to dance

bobma, ma- a dance

rtiobini, mi- dancer

mbisi, m- fish

boi, (ba-) houseboy, servant

2^5
 LING A LA

mboka, m- village, region, district; tribe,

race; residence, address

liboke, rna- bunch, group, crowd; pack,

package; swarm

loboko', ma- arm, sieve, side, hand

mobokoli, ba- raiser, one who cares for/raises

children/animals

-bokololo to bring up, raise, rear, feed,

lilt
breed (animals)

bolangiti, bolangisi blanket

-bolose (brosser) to brush

bolosi (brosse) brush

-boma to kill, murder, slaughter; hunt

catch; damage badly, destroy,
extinguish, efface, erase, wipe
(off); abolish, eliminate, do
away with

-bomba to hide, keep, store, preserve,

shelter; observe, obey (law,
custom)

eboxnbeli, bi- place/rack/cabmet for storage;

dresser, bookcase, chma-cabmet
mobomi, mi- killer, murderer, assassin,
butcher

-bongisa to put m order, prepare, repair,

arrange, dress up

-bongisama to be repaired (by someone)

-bongisela to repair or prepare for someone

256
 '

BASIC COURSE

mobongisi, ba- repairer

mobongisi ya motuka mechanic

-bongo, -bonga to be suitable, be m order,
fit, be fitting

libongo, ma- shore, quay, wharf, dock

mbongo, m- money; silver

-bongo la to change, turn around; stir;

interpret, translate; dis-
place, remove, shift

-bosana to forget, be mistaken, make

a mistake
liboso, ma- front; before, m front of;
first} last, fartherest

-bota to give birth to, bear, produce

libota, libota, ma- family, household, descent

mbotama, m- birth

mbote greetings, good morning/after

noon/evenmg
moboti, ba- parent
bobotisi, (ma-) obstetrics, midwifery

inobotisi, ba- midwife

-botolo
I I I
to take/snatch away, confiscate,
impound; pillage

'bourgmestre mayor

'bourse d 'etudes' scholarship

-boya to refuse, reject, not want,
despise; abandon, leave for
good

257
 LING A LA

-buka to break, demolish, pick, gather;

conquer) change direction

-bukana to be broken; gather, assemble,

be equally strong

mbula, m- ram, rainy seasonj year

bule (bleu) blue

libulu, ma- well, pit, toilet

in buma , m- fruit; sore, boil; gram, seed;

change, coins

libiiinu, ma- stomach, belly, womb

- buna , - bunda to fight, wage war; wrestle,

struggle

- bung to forget, make a mistake, be

wrong; lose; get lost; lose
one ' s way; die

-bungisela to lose

'bureau office

bus bus (see otobisi)

-buta to rise, ascend, climb (up),

creep (up) ,
go up, increase

ebuteli, bi- ladder, stairs; top, summit

-butisela to send something (back) to

someone

buto (bouton) button

butu, mutu night

buuku, (ba-) book

mbwa , in- dog

258
 ' ' '

LING A LA

-bwaka to throw, reject, renounce;

throw out, disown

ebwele, bi- small domestic animal, sheep,

goat

'chec check
'
chutes rapids

'cravate necktie

ndako, n- house, building, room, shed,

wall

Ndako-Nzambe church

ndambo , n- part, piece, share, half

nde then, introduces mam clauses

m conditional sentence

nde only, however, although, mspite

of the fact that; a future
marker m literary Lmgala
(Do not use as a future marker!

-defa to borrow, buy on credit, ask

for the loan of

-def isa to lend, give as a loan, pay

m advance, sell on credit

ndele, n- sometime, m the future

ata ndele much later

mondele , mi- white man, European

ndembo, n- rubber; ball

259
 LING A LA

ndenge , n- sort, kind, manner, way, quality

ndenge na ndenge all kinds of

ndenge mm how

madesii beans
I

dii comrade, friend

midi noon (ll-l)

diabolo, ba- devil, evil spirit

nd mga, n- language

ndmgisa, n-, consent, permission, authority,

(See--lingxsa) authorization
ndobo, n- fishing, fish hook

bondoki, ma- gun, rifle

ndunda , n vegetables

dzeke steamshovel; front-end loader;

earth mover; dump truck

ee (sometimes mgressive) yes; oh

'election' election

essence gasoline

falanga, falanka (franc! franc

-fanda, -fwanda to sit, be seated, live, reside

efandeli, bi- seat, chair

-fandisa to cause to sit, have sit

260
 BASIC COURSE UNIT

efelo, bi- wall

lit' fevele
fiefele, III (fievre! fever

fisi (fiche) form, blank

foto (photo) photograph, picture

Franoais (also Falanse. French

frigo (frigo) refrigerator, cold storage room

- f unga to shut, close; take grasp;

button

-fungola to open, release, unlock,

unbutton

lifungola, ma- key

lifungu, ma- button

-fungwamaka to be opened

-futa to pay; a tone, make up for

lifuta, ma- pay, payment, salary

ma futa oil, fat, grease

mofutelx, ba- payer) tenant, renter

-fwanda (See -fanda)

-fwandisa (See -fandisa)

ngai sour(ness)

ngai I, me, my, mine

ngai (emphatic subject)

Lmgala the Lmgala language

monganga, mi- physician, European doctor

'gare '
station

261
 LING A LA

'gaz ' gas

magazmi (magasm) store, shop; depot, storage place

o
gbagba, gbagba bridge

'gendarme policeman

-ngenge to shine, blaze, gleam

-ngenisa to cause to shine, blaze, gleam

mmgi much, many

bango they, them

boongo thus, so

yango they (impersonal)

ngola, n- ngola tree; reddish powder make

from its bark; red, purple,
violet

Imgolo, ma- mango

ngomba , n- mountain, hill

ngombe , n- cow, bull

-ngomela to iron for someone

-ngomelisela to have something ironed for

someone

ngonga , n- time, hour, bell, gong; clock

'goudron tar

'gouvernement government

nguba , n- peanut ( s)

-gumba to fold, bend; stoop

-gumbaira to be bent/folded/stooped

mongungi, monloingi, n- mosquito

262
 BASIC COURSE

nguya strength, power; ability,

quality

mongwa , mi- salt

mai water; sap, juice

mai-mai liquid

moi sun, sunlight, daylight, day,

the heat of the sun

ifo (il fautl it is necessary, to have to

still, yet

kaba to give, state; divide, share;

betray

kabmda, ba- carpenter, cabinetmaker

kabme (cabinet) toilet* excrement

-kabola to hand out, distribute

divide up, separate

-kalwana to be separated/divided/dis-
tributed

nka 1 , n- paddle, oar

kaka only

nka ke , n- thunder, lightning

kala formerly, earlier, old

kaleso (cale9on) shorts, underwear

-kalmga, -kalanga to roast, bake, fry

263
 LING A LA

likama, ma- danger, accident, natural

calamity; punishment,
retribution

nkama, monkama hundred

-kamata to take, receive, accept

likambo, ma- difference, matter, case,

dispute, affair

kamio (camion) truck

kana then, otherwise

-kana to resolve, intend, threaten,

promise

mokanda, mi- letter, paper, document

-kanga to wrap up, package; stop,

cease, close, shut; take,
grasp

-kangama to be stopped, tied, captured,

congealed

ekangeli, bi- handle; band; devide for turning

-kangema to be closed

bokangi, (ma-) a stop, stopping

-kangwama to be opened

-kangisa to stop, cause to stop; join

fasten, screw tight; detain

-kangola to release, let go of, loose,

open unroll, unlock, unfasten

-kangolela to open for someone

-kangwa to be open, be unlocked

-kanisa to think, reflect

26i|
 BASIC COURSE UNIT

likanisi, ma- thought, opinion, intention

ka ny a , nka ny a , \ n- fork, pitch fork, rake

kasi but, on the contrary

makasi very, much, strong, hard

-kata to cut, chop

-mikata to cut oneself

-katana to cut each other; get cut;

stop

kati m, inside (of), m the middle

of, among; center, middle,
inside

katikati m between, m the middle/center

of

-katisa cause/have cut; cross; interrupt,

change direction, go through
bend, curve

-kauka, -kaoka to be (come) dry

-kaukisa to dry, cause to dry

kawa coffee

likaya, ma- tobacco, cigarette, cigar

kazaka coat, jacket, vest

moke, mi- small, thin; smallness

-keba to pay attention, be attentive

likei, ma- egg

bokei, (ma-) departure, starting, separation

discrim-ma tion, distinction
f * f
nkekele, cane, reed, liana, wickerwork
III' n-

265
 LING A LA

ekeko, bi- picture, sculpture, statue

ke la si class, classroom, school

lokele , n- spoon

makelele
I I I
quarrel, argimient, sound of
voices, noise

-kende
I I
to go, go away; die

-k^nge to take glances at, watch

-kengele to watch, guard, keepj raise

animals

mokengeli, ba- guard, keeper, protector,

sentinel, overseer, warehouse-
keeper

makila blood; fate, destiny

bokila, ma- hunt mg)

(

mokili, mi- mainland, land; interior,

inland; world

kiliyo, kilio (crayon) pencil; legal charges, costs

bokilo, bakilo parent- m- law; brother/sister-

m-law, good friend, acquaint-
ances

nakmga, n- bicycle

kinmi (quinine) quinine

nkisi, n- medicine, charm

-kita to go/come down, descend;

decrease, dimmish

kiti chair

266
 BASIC COURSE

-kitisj to cause to come down/descend;

bring down, put down; take a

person somewhere, drop off a

person

kitoko
t I
beauty, beautiful, pretty, fine;
delicious, clean, neat

Kituba, Kutuba the Kituba language

ko indeed, certainly; come on

moko
I t
one; certain, some

mokobo, ini- color, paint

-koka to be able, can; be all present;

be sufficient, enough

koko, ba- grandparent, grandchild

-kola to grow (up) , increase

lokola, n- kind, sort, like, similar,

such as

-kolisa to cause to grow, bring up,

raise, rear

ekolo, bi- tribe (race), people of same

place or language

nkoo, nko, n- intent, malice, purpose, will

kokoti coconut, coconut palm

likolo, ma- sky, heaven; up, top, surface,

above, over, on

lokolo, ma- leg, foot paw; wheel, rim, tire

mokolo, mi- day

mokolo, ba- grown person, adult

kolongonu health

267
 LING A LA

monkoloto, mi- line

-koma to write, sign, inscribe, enroll

-koma to arrive, begin

- komama to be written

- konbama to be swept/cleaned (by someone)

I

- kombo , - komba to sweep, clean house; emptyj

wipe up/off; clean up/off

nkombo , n- name; honor, reputation

-komela write to/for someone

ekomeli, bi- writing instrument, writing,

material, pencil, pen

ekomeli, bi- pencil, pen, writing material

bokomi, (ma-) arrival

mokomi, ba- writer, author, scribe

-komisa to start, begin; cause to start/

begin

komisele (comxnissaire commissioner, policeman

I t

-kona to plant, sow

nkondoko , n- cat

nkongo , n- hoe, pickax

mokongo, mi- back

-konza to manage, rule

mokonzi chief, king, boss, supervisor

kopo glass, tumbler, cup

-kota, koto to enter, go m

ekoti, bi- hat (man s)

268
 BASIC COURSE

-kotisa
t
to cause to enter, insert,
put m
nkoto thousand

kovokasio (convocation) notice, summons, traffic ticket

mokristu, monkristu, ba- Christian

-kufa to die; wear out; be broken

kuloi kitchen; cook

-kulutu, ba- older brother/sister

Icuna over there, yonder

-kunda to bury; plant

monl<xingi; mongungi, n- mosquito

mokuse, mi- short, small

-kuta to meet, find, come upon

-kutana to meet/find lack other

-kwa, -kweya to fall, fall down; take, get,

obtain; cost

likwangola, ma- machete, choppmg-knif e; part

of a village where ex-soldiers
live

-kweisa to drop, throw down, cut/pull

down, cause to fall, demolish,
give judgment agamsts m a

lawsuit

-kweya to fall| be involved m/lose

a lax-fsuit

269
 LING A LA

bolai, (ma-) length, depth, height

molai, mi- long, large, tall, deep, high

-laka to give advice, set a time,

promise; order

-lakisa to show, display, teach, instruct

molakisi, ba- teacher

-lala to sleep, lie down, stay, remain

lilala, ma- orange

malali, maladi imaladie, sickness, illness

-lalisa to put to bed, put to sleep

-lamba to cook, prepare food

elamba, bi- cloth, material, piece of

clothing

-lambela to cook or prepare food for

someone

molambi, ba- cook

malamu good, well, fine

-landa to follow, pursue; prosecute,

sue; look for; woo, court

elanga field, garde; dry season; year,

cultivating season
langi, n- color, paint

-lata to dress, put on clothes

-latisa to dress, cause to put on

clothes

bilei food( s) , mjeal

bolei, (ma-) meal

270
 BASIC COUESE UNIT

-leisa to feed, cause/give to eat

-leka to go by, pass by, surpass, excel

-lekaka to go/pass by regularly; to

happen, continue to happen

leki, ba- younger brother/sister

-lekisa to have pass by, pass on;

neglect; omit, miss

eleko, bi- season, time, period

lelo today

-lemb^ to be (come) tired, weary; tender,

done; (re)lax(ed), soft,
moderate, abate

-lengel^ to prepare, get ready

elengi pleasing to the senses; good

taste/smell} beauty

leta d'etat) government, state

Kikongo ya Leta Kituba

-lia to eat

libwa nine

miliki milk

malili cold; shade, cool place

molili dark, obscure, darkness;

Ignorance

-limbisa to forgive, pardon, excuse

bolimbisi, (ma-) forgiveness, pardon

-Imga to want, like; be almost on the

point of; love, be fond of

271
 LING A LA

-Imgana to love/like each other;

intertwine

-Imgisa to authorize, grant permission

bolmgo, ma- lovej will

lisu, liso, misu, miso eye I m pi.) with eyes open;

with good vision/taste; un-
afraid

-loba to speak, tell, say

-lobaloba to talk a lot, discuss,

argue, complain

-lobaloba to chat, engage m small talk,

complain, talk nonsense

-lobela to speak to

molobeli, ba- speaker, intercessor, lawyer

molobi, ba- speaker, lecturer

-lobo
I I
to fish

eloko, bi- thing, object

boloko, ma- jsilj prison

-lokoto to pick up, gather, collect

bololo bitter (ness) , sour(ness)

-lona to plant, sow

bilona plant, planting, that which has

been planted

-longana to marry, get married (Christian

rite)

balongani married couple (s)

bolongani, bolongani, ma- marriage (Christian rite);

married person

272
 '

BASIC COURSE

-longola, -longwa to take away, remove, undress;

wake up

bolongoli, (ma-) removal, subtraction

lopitalo, ba- (.hopital, hospital

loso rice

-luka to hunt, search

-luka to row/paddle a boat

-lukela to hunt for (something) for

someone

molunge, ni- warmth, heat; fever, sweat;

stifling

lutu spoon

ma of, belonging to

raa Here.' Take it J

ma liasi (manage) marriage

mama, ba- mother

lomande (amende) fine, penalty

-ma ta to go up, climb, rise

'mecancien mechanic

-meka to measure, weigh, try (out),

test

bomeki, (ma-) attempt, effort, try

-mele to drink, suck, smoke; take

I 1

medicine

melesi (merci) thanks

-melisa to cause/give to drink

273
 LING A LA

mamelo, ba- (ma mere, nun

-memeI I
to carry, transport

-memele
I I I
to carry for someone

momemi, ba- porter, carrier, bearer

mesa table

meya, lomeya fifty-centime piece

lommgo Sunday, week

-monana to be seen, appear; see each

other; get seen

-mono, -mona
I I
' I
to see, feel, observe

'Monsieur Mister, Sir, Gentleman

mwmda light, lamp

mwmdu, momdu, momdo, ba- black, dark; a Negro, an African

na m, of, by, with; and

na and, also, even, besides, m

addition

mmei four

mon^ne, mi- big, thick, wide) fat, tall

boni how much, how, many

nam, ba- who, which

nmi, ba- what, which

moninga, mi- friend, companion, colleague,

peer

-no, -noko to ram

noki fast, quick, prompt, early

271+
 BASIC COURSE

-nokisa to make/cause to ram

-nokot I
(See -no)

noko, ba- uncle, mother's brother

monoko, mi- mQiitbry- opening; word, message

bmu you (pi.)

Imu, lino, ma- tooth

numero (nuiuero) number

o to, toward, at, m, on, by

00 oh;

otobisi (autobus, bus

limpa, ma- bread, piece of bread

mopagano, ba- pagan

epai, bi- side, part, direction

mpaku, mpako, ni- tax; corvee labor

palaki (plaque) plate, plaque; auto licence

plate

palato, ba- errand boy, messenger postman

-palola to skin, peel, scrape (off),

scour (off)

mpamba , m- free, worthless, only, vam,

without reason; nothing

lopango, m- enclosure, fence; plot of land;

place of residence

275
 LING A LA

-papola to make thinner, shave off, remove

an excess

'Parlementaire '
, ba- member of Parliament

mpasi, ffl- pain, suffering illness

-pasola to tear (off), cleave, split (off),

saw, clear (away)

pastele (pasteur) minister, clergyman (Protestant)

-pasuka to be worn out

-paswa to be split, torn; explode, split

suddenly

mpata, m- sheep

mpata, ni- five-franc piece

patalo (pantalon) trousers, pants

mpau, mpao, m- shovel, spade

mopaya, ba- stranger; guest, visitor; host

mpe and, also, even

mope, moinpe , ba- vmon priest (Catholic)

pere

-pela to be on fire, burn, be hit

mpela, m- ram; rainy season; flood

-pelisa to kindle, light; sharpen

mpema , m- breath

mpembe chalk, white; ivory

mpembeni, m- side, edge; around, near, beside,

along, next to

p^nepene near, close, by against

mpenza, in- only, alone, really, truly,

completely

276
 )

BASIC COURSE

mopepe, mi- wind, air

-pesa to give, provide with

-pesana to give to each other

lopete, m- ring; stripe, braid

mompila, mi- undershirt, tee shirt, vest,

sweater

pilipilx red pepper, pimento

mpio, m- cold

piosi (pioche) pick, pickofe

pitolo (petrole. kerosene

mpo thing, matter, affair; because,

on account of

mpo na mm why

mpokwa, m- afternoon, (until 6 p.m.)

polisi (police) policeman, police

-polo to be (come) wet/soggy/rotten;

be beaten, defeated

pompi pump, spray; filling station

mpondu manioc leaves (used as a

vegetable

mpongi, m- sleep

-pono, pona to choose, select, elect, prefer

mposa, m- urge, desire

posi (poche) pocket, pouch, sack

posita (poste) post office, post service,

ma il box

277
 LING A LA

mposo, m- week; rationj Saturday; weekend,

salary, pay

'president' president

'prise' plug (electrical)

'pull-over sweater

-pupa to blow, fan, window; shake;

clean by blowing/shaking

-pupola, pupola to blow/shake/clean off

-pusa to surpass, exceed, be very,

be too much

-pusa to push, shove

pusupusu (pousse-pousse) push cart; baby carriage,

stroller

liputa, ma- pagne, long wrap-around skirt

putulu cinders, ashes, dust, powder

radio, radio radio

saboni (savon) soap

mosai, monsai, mosapi, finger, toe

mi- , n-

-sakana to pay, enjoy oneself, have a

good time

-sala to do, work, perform, make, till

the ground, farm

lisala, ma- field, cultivation; vegetable

dish

278
 BASIC COURSE

rnosala, mx- job, work, trade, occupation

-salama to be done/maade

-salamaka to be done/made habitually

esalali, bi- tool, instrument

-rnisaleli to make/do for oneself

mosaleli, ba- servant

esalelo, bi- workshop, ^^forkroom, place to

work
mosali, ba- worker, employee

-salisa to help, take care of; employ,

instruct

-salisana to help each other

lisalisi, bosalisi, ma- help, aid, assistance

mosalisi, ba- assistant, helper

- samba to plead

esamba, bi- prayer

-sambela to plead for someone; pray;

perform/conduct religious
services

nsambo seven

-sana, -sakona to play, amuse oneself

- sanga to assemble, meet; mix

sanduku, (ba-) trunk, box, suitcase, chest

ma sanga wine, beer

nsango, n- news, report

sani, ba- dish, bowl, plate, basin

mosani, ba- player

279
 LINGALA

lisano, lisanu, ma- game

sanza month, moon; salary-

sapato, sapata shoe ( s

mosapi, mosai, mi- finger, toe

misatu, misato three

'sciences economiques '

economics

se, te that... (introduces subordinate

clause

nse, n- earth, world; bottom; down under,

beneath

-seba to sharpen, file, whet; draw

palm wine

'secretaire secretary

semba right, just, honest

-semba to extend, be right/upright

-sembola to put right, straigthen up,

make vertical

-sembwa to be right, just, sincere;

be m an upright position,
be straight

-senge, -senga to ask for, begj order

(merchandise

sika, sikawa now, just now, recently,

immediately

esika, bi- place; where; when, while

mosika, mi- distance; distant, remote,

far off
 ,

BASIC COURSE

mosikitele, mi- mosquito netting

(moustiquane
- sila to finish, be done, finished,
already

silasi (cirage) polish, shoe polish

ns ima , n- back, rear, later, afterward

na ns ima then, next

- s xmba to hold, seize

simeti (ciment) cement

simisi (chemise) shirt

smema (cinema) movies, cinema

smga cord, rope, wire, cable; band,

belt

mas mi (machine) machine, mechanical instrument;

tram
nyonso, banso all, every, each

liso, miso Isee lisuj

soda, ba- (soldat) soldier

sofele, ba- (chauffeur) driver, chauffeur

soko, soki if, whether, about, perhaps

sokola (chocolat) brown, dark red

sokoto uniform, military jacket/

clothing

-solola to talk, converse, speak,

socio true, real

I I I

mosolo, mi- money, wealth; dowry

-somba to buy, purchase, procure

281
 LING A LA

- sombama to be purchased

-sombela to sell to someone

-rnisombela to buy for oneself

mosombi, ba- purchaser, buyer

inosoni, ba- seamstress, tailor

-sono to sew, make clothes

-sopa to pour, spill, overturn, spread;

talk nonsense

soseti (chausette) sock, stocking

nsoso, n- chicken

bisu we

lisu, liso, misu, miso eye; ( m pi.) with eyes open,

with good vision/taste ; un-
afraid

nsuka , n- the end

nsuka ya mposo weekend

-suka to end, finish; separate

sukali ( Sucre sugar; candy; sweet

rnosuki, n- hair

- sukola to wash, clean, launder; to

speak frankly to someone, tell
someone off

-misukola to bathe, take a bath

-sukolela to wash/clean for someone

-sukolelisa to have something washed/cleaned
for someone

-sukwama to be/have been washed, mopped

282
 BASIC COURSE

sTome (essuie-mam) towel, wash cloth

lisusu again, besides, else, moreover,

yet
lisusu te no more, no longer

mosusu, mi- other, others, else

na ntangu mosusu occassionally, sometimes

sutani (soutane) cloth (clergy), cassock

ma suwa , ma swa boat, ship

-swaa to bite, stmg

misyoni (mission) missionj missionary, clergyman
(Protestant)

ntaba, n- goat

etabe, bi- banana

matabisi (matabiche! matabiche, something extra

given as an incentive to buy;
tip, gratuity, advantage,
profit

taksi (taxi) taxicab

-tala to look, look at, visit

talase (terrasse! ditch, canal

tala tala mirror, pane of glass; specta-

cles, lamp chimney

botali, (ma-) view} viewmgj contemplation

motali, mi- spectator, observer

-talisa to demonstrate, show

litalisi, ma- show, demonstration, display

283
 LING A LA

taliye, talye latelier) workshop, shop, workroom

ntalu, ntalo, n- price, niamber

litambala, kitambala, ma- handkerchief, cloth, towel,

napkin
- tambola to take a walk, travel, move,
make progress, hurry

- tambola tambola to walk a lot, a long way;

wander

- tambwisa to put m motion, start, drive

(a car)

motambwisi, ba- one who sets m motion, one

who spreads, steersman
motabwisi ya motuka driver, chauffeur

- tanda to spread, stretch out

motane bright red/orange/yellow

motaneso light yellow/tan/be ige

- tanga to read , count, eniunerate add up
,

ntangu, ntango, n- time, hour; clock; sun

mitano, mitanu five

tasi (tasse) cup

sani ya tasi saucer

tata, ba- father

ma tanga ma tanga, mourning, reception

held at end of mourning and
certain other special occa-
sions

ntangu, ntango, n- time, hour; sun; clock

te //te// no t , no

281^
 BASIC COURSE

te /'te// that, so that, m order that

tee, til until

motei, moteyi, mi- teacher, instructor

- tekaI
to sell} betray; dainage
another's reputation

moteki, ba- seller, trader

motekinyarna, ba- rneatseller, butcher

- t^kisa to cause to sell; resell at a

profit

telefon
III (telephone)
^ telephone

- teleme
I I I
to stop, stand up; insist

ntembe, n- discussion, argument; doubt,

suspicion, hesitation

tembele (timbre)
I I I
postage-stamp

eteni, bi- piece, part, share, room

- teya to teach, instruct

liteya, ma- lesson

eteyelo, bi- school

moteyi, motei, mi- teacher, instructor

' thermometre '

thermometer

til tea

til, tee until, up to; (for) a long time,

without interruption
p
*
-tiela, -tiyela, -tila
p
to put for, put m for, pour for

-tika to leave, abandon, renounce,

forsake, abstain from, cease;
leave behind; delivery let,
permit

285
 LING A LA

-tikala to stay, remain, stay behind

botiki, (ma-) resignation, abdication

-tima to dig, spade

-timola to dig up, spade over, turn over

the soil

ntma, n- root; basis, meaning, reason

cause, significance, principle;
because

ntma na, ntma ya because of, on account of,

therefore

-tmda to order, command; send

-tmdama to be sent, shipped

-tmdela to send someone, order someone

lititi, ma- blade of grass; hair, sheet of

paper; weed, plant

-tiya to put (m/on), set pour m place,

load (up/on)

-tiyana to put up with each other,

-tiyana ntembe to discuss

-tiyela, -tiela to put for, put m for, pour for

tiyo (tuyau) pipe, tube, hose

moto (See motu)

mo to, mutu, motu, mi- head; bunch

moto fire, heat

too or

motoba six

-tobolo to pierce, puncture

286
 BASIC COURSE

- toka to draw water; dig out/up

- tokisa to boil, be boiling, cause to boil

-toko to boil, be boiling

I I

tomato to ma to

- tombala to pick up, lift, carry-

- tonda to be (come) full/filled; fill

- tondisa to fill

- tondo to wish, hope, thank

t I

-tonsa to bind, tie, join; twist, braid,

plait J
weave, sevj; expand,
enlarge

- tonga to build

- tongama to be built, be finished

motongi, ba- builder, contractor, mason

- tongisa to have built, cause to be built

ntongo, n- morning, afternoon

motu, rt]oto, ba- person, huraan, man

mutu (.See motU/

motuka, mi- automobile, truck, motor car

lituka, ma- three stones used to cook on;

cook stove

ntuku, n- ten

- tumba to burn, set fire to, fry, roast

over/m a fire

etumba, bi- war, fight, battle, conflict

- tioinbama to be burned, fired

287
 LING A LA

- tuna to ask, question

-mi tuna to wonder, ask oneself

mo tuna, mi- a question

- tunama to be questioned, interrogated

kitunga, litunga, ma- basket with a lid

il tungulu, ma- onion, leek

- tuta to strike, beat, mash, crush,

bump (against)

motuya, mi- value, price; number, arithmetic

-uniela to remain, stay on, stay away

-umelaka to last, continue to last

'universite university

-uta to come from

uta from, since

'ville '
city, town; downtown; Kalma,
the business and European
sectiori of Leopoldville

vmu wine

viza (visf visa

'voiture automobile
- 'voter '
to vote

of, at

here; since, as, while

 BASIC COURSE

mwa of, belonging

wana, vjaana there, that, by/near you

wapi where; (emphatic negative) not

at all, nothing at all, not
whether

wolo gold

of, belonging to

-yaa to come, come to be, become

-nyakola to scratch, mark

nyama , n- animal, meat

monyama, mi- net

-yangela to manage, administrate, arrange

moyangeli, ba- manager, director, administrator

ye, yee he, she, him, her, his, hers

boye so, thus

-yeba to know, know how to, be ac-

quainted with; may, be allowed
to

-yebana to become known

-yebisa to advise, inform, make known

liyebisa, ma- notice, indication

-yekola to study, learn

moyekoli, ba- student

-yekwisa to teach, instruct

moyekwisi, ba- teacher, instructor

289
 LING A LA

mayele mtelligence , understanding,

intellect, mind; shyness,
craftiness, manner, means

-yemba to sing

loyembo, n- song, singing

moyembi, ba- singer

eyenga, bi- festival, feast day; Sunday, week

-yiba to steal, take away

moyibi, ba- the if

-yibisa to cause to steal, cause to be

stolen

-ymda to become dark/black/dirty

-miyibisa .
to cause to be one's possession,
to be stolen

yo, yoo you (sg.), your, yours

oyo this, these, the

-yoka to hear, listen; feel; understand

-yokama to be heard (by someone)

-yokana to hear (from) one another,

understand each other, agree,
live on good terms with

-nyokolo to mistreat, torture, annoy,

oppress

monyokoli, ba- torturer, tyrant, slavedriver;

weariness, bother, trouble

nyongo, n- debt

290
 ,

BASIC COURSE

-zala to be, exist, sit, live

-zala na to have

-zala ya to be made of, consist of

nzala, n- hunger; famine

ezalali, bi- seat, chair, bench

bozali, (ma-) being, nature

ndenge ya bozali character, personality

zamba, mamba woods, forest, jungle, interior,

outside, country

Nzambe God

zandu, zando market, open produce market

-zanga to be lacking, miss, be without,

absent

linzanza, ma- metal box, tin car; sheet of

metal

nzela See nzila

zelo
t 1
sand

nzertibo. n- song, singing

*
-zenga to cut off, chop off

nzete n- tree, stick, piece of wood,

handle

nzila, nzela, n- road, way, path, passage; admit-

tance, permission; opening;
means

-zila to wait, wait for

-z mda to sink; drown, flood, go under

water

291
 BASIC COURSE

-zoka to be injured, be touched

-zokisa to injure, wound

-mizokisa to injure/wound oneself

nzoku, n- elephant

zomi ten

-zonga to return, go/conie back

-zongisa to send/give back; answer

nzotu, nzoto, n- body

zulunalo ( journal! neixfspaperj magazine

zuzi, zuze ( juge) judge; court, tribunal

-zwa to get, receive, find, meet

-zwama to be taken, received, found

PROPER NAMES

Alobe (Albert) Albert

'Americam American

'Amerique America

Andele lAndrej Andrew

'Antome '
Antome
Augusti (aout? August

Bmza Bmza, the (former) European

section of Leopoldville

Brazzaville the city of Brazzaville

California California

CEGEAC C.E.G.E.A.C., a new- car dealer th

that imports American-made cars

292
 a ' )

LING A LA

Coq the city of Coquilhatville

Desembe (decembre) December

Fevlie (.fevrierj February

Kimwenza Kimwenza

Kmsasa Leopoldville; the original

settlement, now only a part
of Leopoldville

Kisangani the city of Stanleyville

Kongo Congo

Leo the city of Leopoldville

Mai (mai) May

Ma la SI (mars) March

Mar ens the city of Marensa

Ma ta d 1 the city of Matadi

'Michel Michel

Monika (ilonique) Monique

Stanley Sir Henry Morton Stanley

Novembe (novernbre) November

Okotobe (octobre) October

'Pierre '
Pierre

Polo (Paul) Paul

Mpoto, Mputu (Portugal. Europe

Setembe, Setembele September

( septembre)

Yuli (juillet) July

Yuni ( jum) June

Zavie ( janvier January

Zola, Zola Zola (proper name)

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